Ministries With the Homeless and/or Those With Special Housing Needs

• Ard Aoibhinn, Mount Bolus
• Ashbourne Care
• Tullamore Housing

Social Housing Schemes

Ard Aoibhinn, Mount Bolus

The Mid Offaly Housing Association, a local community group affiliated to the Irish Council for Social Housing, provides housing for elderly people in Mt Bolus, Co Offaly. Situated in a picturesque setting in view of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, the accommodation (ten houses) allows people to remain at the heart of their community, independently and in a safe environment where shop, Post Office and Church are convenient and communal laundry facilities, daily meals and home help are sponsored by the Health Board.

Sr Ann Itotia, CLT, visits the Mount Bolus project

In this unique ministry two Sisters continue the work of Catherine McAuley. They live on the complex, work with the committee, are first contact for the residents and attend to the day-to-day running of the project, providing hospitality, support and security. They facilitate weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Oratory and organise seasonal Prayerful Reflections. They support various meetings and social activities in the communal area, ie Active Age, Whist Drives, Parent Toddler Group.

Phase 2 of the project, in collaboration with Respond, has provided 12 houses for couples with young children. This answers a need for affordable housing, but also ensures that the area retains its youth to keep alive its schools, Churches, local social and sporting bodies.

Phase 3, a 25-bedded High Support Unit for the elderly no longer able to live independently, is in the initial planning stage.

Contact: Srs Mary O Connor & Teresita Blake
Email: midoffaly@oceanfree.net

Ashbourne Care

Ashbourne Care (Ashbourne, Co Meath) is another housing project for the elderly. The project is aimed primarily at the elderly (often those on low income) and is especially sympathetic to people who have been living in unsuitable accommodation or living in fear. This development allows people to remain at the heart of their communities, independently and in a safe environment, where shops, post office and church are conveniently close.

Currently two Sisters live in close proximity to residents and provide welcome, hospitality, care and support. Their role also includes assisting with Church and Parish events.

Contact: Killegland Court, Ashbourne - Srs Jo Dunne & Margaret Mary Murphy Email: mercynth.province@btinternet.com

Tullamore Housing

Many of our Sisters are involved in Support Projects such as Tullamore Housing. This housing project offers emergency/short-term accommodation for homeless/out-of-home people while they plan for the future. There is a social mix of residents, lone parents, families, elderly etc, and support is offered in the following ways:

• Provision of a safe, secure haven while people go through a crisis
• Individual contact and regular Residents' meetings to assist, support and help people through crisis, transition, and finally settlement stage as they prepare for permanent accommodation
• Help to liaise with relevant statutory personnel, eg housing officers, community welfare officers, social workers, public health nurses and with those who can advise on money & budgeting matters

Contact: John Burke
"Lann Elo", Clontarf Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly

Email: lanelo2002@eircom.com

Ministry With People Seeking Asylum In Ireland

Sr Enid Slater from the Northern Province works with refugees. She meets with them at a Reception Centre outside Dublin where there is accommodation for c 700 asylum seekers. These people arrive from any of 45 different countries, mostly bewildered, confused, unsure of who they can trust, and at a loss because they have limited English. Enid welcomes the new arrivals, offers friendship, advice and a listening ear as people try to settle in. She also provides support for those who find it difficult to adjust, helps with English classes and often writes letters to support appeal applications. Above all she offers love, acceptance, and her time, to those in need.

Contact: Sr Enid Slater
Email: mercynth.province@btinternet.com

Simon Community

The Simon Community is the principal cross-community voluntary organisation working and campaigning for the elimination of homelessness throughout Northern Ireland. Sr Helena Daly is the Project Leader of Newry Simon Community, one of several accommodation projects of the Simon Community, NI. The staff work to provide an accommodation, support and resettlement service for individuals who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The service is accessed by referral from statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and self-referrals. There is no provision for accommodation of Schedule One or sex offenders. Temporary accommodation is provided for single people, male and female, aged 16-75. They are offered:

• Direct access hostel accommodation for 12 people
• Semi-independent living accommodation in five adjacent flats
• An outreach cluster flat scheme for four people living in the community
• Resettlement and floating support services to residents who have moved to independent accommodation
• Information and counselling service to residents and ex-residents.

A link worker system is operated to enable each resident to develop and implement individual support plans and a resettlement programme.

Contact: Sr Helena Daly
Tel: 028 85548127

Foyle Haven

Sr Catherine Boyle is the chairperson of 'Foyle Haven', an association which offers Street Drinkers day shelter and outreach programmes in the hope that this will help reduce elements of social isolation. A holistic technique for the promotion of self-worth is adopted and clients are encouraged to take personal responsibility and to minimize self-harm in accordance with their own needs/wishes.

The project is supported by various statutory and voluntary agencies.

Contact: Sr Catherine Boyle
Tel: 028 85548127