Armed with the belief that homelessness has no place in Ireland, Depaul, a cross-border homelessness charity in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, is hosting a Sleep Out.

Set for Friday, May 19th, 2023, it will take place at Trinity College in Dublin with the purpose of raising money for the homeless services and homelessness prevention services Depaul provides.

Depaul has been working against homelessness in Ireland for over 20 years since being established back in 2002 and has been working in Northern Ireland since 2005. They provide over 37 services focused on prevention, families & young people, health & rehabilitation, housing, and high support accommodation.

Homelessness remains a huge issue not only in Dublin, but across Ireland. Almost 12,000 people, about 3,000 of which are children, are using temporary accommodation.

Depaul combats this by offering more than 600 bed spaces per night throughout Ireland in addition to other services. Last year, their prevention team maintained over 150 at-risk tenancies.

However, after the eviction ban ended earlier this month, homelessness is a problem that is only expected to increase in severity.

 

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Depaul's Sleep Out's purpose is twofold: it acts as a fundraiser for the charity's services and as a way to declare to the local community that homelessness is unacceptable.

“By taking part in Depaul’s Annual Sleep Out, you will provide a lifeline to people who are homeless in Ireland or help someone who is at risk of eviction," elaborates Caroline O'Connell, the Director of Fundraising & Communications at Depaul.

"All funds raised will ensure that Depaul can continue their vital work in homeless prevention services and temporary accommodation across Ireland.”

You can sign up for the Sleep Out this May on Depaul's website or donate to help support the cause. Working with Depaul on the event are students from the European Solidarity Corps volunteer programme and Trinity College, Author Dr. Rory Hearne, Trinity's Head of Education Carmel O'Sullivan, and Daragh Lynch of the Irish folk band Lankum.

Just last week, the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) hosted a rally against the end of the eviction ban and supporting a reinstatement of the ban. Other efforts at combating the ban's end include the since-defeated People Before Profit bill that went to the Dáil in hopes of extending the ban. People Before Profit also had their own Cost of Living Coalition Protest on April 1st.

As the cost of living crisis worsens and homelessness is expected to rise, it remains important to support those in need with empathy and compassion.

Depaul has a JustGiving account that can be donated to. Those that can't make it to the Trinity College event are also encouraged to organise their own. Online, people can use the hashtag #DepaulSleepOut2023 on social media to share their experiences, photos, videos, and support.

“The easiest way to raise money is to set up a fundraising page on JustGiving and start sharing it," Caroline O'Connell affirms. "The more people you ask the more funds you can raise for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness."

Find registration for Depaul's Sleep Out here:

Donate to Depaul to help the homeless here: