openingdoors Winter 2017 Volume 12 Issue 2
New Housing First Partnership Launched
Inside this issue: Message from the CEO Housing First Developments
Peter McVerry Trust launched a new Housing First international partnership on Thursday, 19th October in Croke Park, Dublin.
Inside our Services St Agatha’s Court Opening Doors Appeal Fundraising News and Events
Christmas Carol Concert Saturday 9th December St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
Now in its 9th year, Peter McVerry Trust invites you to its annual Christmas Carol Concert in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on December 9th, at 7.30pm. We are delighted to announce that the Boys of The Palestrina Choir, Soprano Eileen Coyle and The Island of Ireland Peace Choir, will perform a selection of seasonal and popular carols and songs at the event. The event will once again be hosted by broadcaster Pat Kenny. Tickets cost €30.00 each and can be purchased online at www.pmvtrust.ie/shop or by calling +353 (0)1 823 0776. Purchase tickets from
www.pmvtrust.ie/ shop
Housing First, a highly successful model of housing and supporting particularly vulnerable people in homelessness, is a cornerstone of Peter McVerry Trust’s approach to ending homelessness. The new partnership will see the creator and founder of Housing First, Dr Sam Tsemberis and his organisation Pathways Housing First Institute provide accreditation, Dr. Sam Tsemberis - Founder of Pathways Housing First Institute speaking in at the launch of Peter McVerry Trust’s advice and monitoring to Peter international Housing First partnership, Dublin October 2017 McVerry Trust. This will ensure our Housing First work fully meets the fidelity of the Housing First model and meet international best practice. Read more about Housing First inside.
Christmas Cards
The 2017 range of Christmas Cards is now available to view and buy on our website www.pmvtrust.ie/shop or through the order form enclosed with this newsletter. We would like to once again extend our sincere thanks to our card sponsors, The Gaiety Theatre and Olympia Theatre. Their generosity in fully sponsoring our range of Christmas cards, ensures that all funds from the sale of the cards goes directly towards supporting people experiencing homelessness. Purchas e
www.p from mvtrus shop t.ie/
Important Notice on Data Protection In order to continue receiving our Newsletter, and fundraising appeals, we need you to opt in under new EU guidelines. Read more about GDPR on page three. In order to ensure that we continue this best practice, please complete the short form on our website www.pmvtrust.ie/contact-preferences or call us on +353 (0)1 823 0776 to opt in, opt out, or update your details.
Note from Pat Doyle CEO
Welcome to the latest edition of Peter McVerry Trust’s Opening Doors Newsletter. In this edition you’ll find information on our activities since late are of the highest quality and offer spring. Unfortunately, 2017 has proven to be the most challenging people professional supports in a and difficult of years and comes on the back of a challenging period. safe and secure environment. Our ability to constantly increase our service provision to respond I also encourage readers to check to the crisis has proven very challenging but we are resolute in out news from our determination to do as much as we our fundraising can to provide high quality emergency ... we have now signed a 3 department. accommodation and greater levels of There are also year partnership to ensure housing move ons. reports from our that our Housing First model annual Opening Doors Appeal which ran from I am delighted that as part of our efforts to is of the best standard combat homelessness we have now signed October 9th-15th, and on the back page you’ll a 3 year partnership to ensure that our find details of our Christmas fundraising appeals internationally... Housing First model is of the best standard as well as our calendar of events for 2018. internationally thus ensuring we maximise Finally, on behalf of Peter McVerry Trust I wish positive outcomes for people in our services. I encourage readers you and your family and friends Merry Christmas and Happy New to take the time to read the Housing First related articles in this Year, and I look forward to seeing some of you at one of our events in newsletter as it is an area that has enormous potential to transform the coming weeks and months. how we go about tackling homelessness in Ireland. This newsletter also gives coverage to the opening of new homeless and housing services, namely St Agatha’s Court in Dublin, and the supported temporary accommodation for families in Athy, Co. Kildare and Swords, Co. Dublin. These services and housing units
Pat Doyle CEO
New Housing Services Peter McVerry Trust has launched a number of new housing projects in recent years and St Agatha’s Court represents our largest capital project to date. The €1.4 million project transformed an empty building and derelict site into a high quality social housing development with 11 apartments for people exiting homelessness and on the social housing waiting list The project was officially opened in mid-June 2017 by Minister of State for Urban Regeneration, Damien English TD. All of the units have now been allocated to new residents.
Fr Peter McVerry with Louise, the first resident in the new St. Agatha’s Court regeneration project in June 2017 Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English at the official opening of St. Agatha’s Court, Dublin in June 2017
Housing First is built on two core aspects, provision of secure housing and intensive case management. The Housing First model is a participant-centred approach that focuses on ending homelessness for people who have been homeless for years or are particularly vulnerable. It is built on two core aspects, provision of secure housing and intensive case management.
Pat Doyle, CEO Peter McVerry Trust and Dr. Sam te Tsemberis, Founder of Pathways Housing First Institu rship partne First g signing a three year Housin
Among the key principles of this model are the right to housing, respect, compassion and harm reduction. Under a Housing First model even if a tenancy fails, Housing First continues to support the individual to another tenancy and the support service continues to engage with the participant. This drastically reduces returns to homeless services and rough sleeping.
Fr Peter McVerry, Dr. Sam Tsem beris, Founder of Pathways Housing First Institute and Pat Doyle, CEO Peter McVerry Trust
city Housing First Regional Service Vehicle in Dublin centre. The Housing First Regional Service is run ry through a 50:50 partnership between Peter McVer . Ireland Trust and Focus
Peter’s Story
Peter got the keys to his own apartment through Peter McVerry Trust and the Housing First Regional Service in partnership with Focus Ireland. I was homeless for almost 10 years, living in hostels and sleeping rough sometimes. Earlier this year, I finally got the keys to my own place. I never thought I’d be in this position. The apartment is beautiful – the layout is perfect. It’s great to be able to put my shopping away in the kitchen. The first things that come into to my head when I think of my new place are security, privacy, and just being able to live a normal life. Moving in felt like being a child again on Christmas morning.
Data Protection in Peter McVerry Trust Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which becomes law on May 25th 2018, Peter McVerry Trust must ensure that your contact details and preferences are up to date. We also must be sure that we have your permission to continue to send you our newsletter, and fundraising appeal details. We have always endeavoured to ensure that we only contact you with your permission. In order to ensure that we continue this best practice, please complete the short form on our website www.pmvtrust.ie/contact-preferences or call us on +353 (0)1 823 0776 to opt in, opt out, or update your details. Thank you for your continued support.
OPENINGDOORSAPPEAL2017
Business for Homes event - October 2017
Peter McVerry Trust’s Opening Doors appeal kicked off with the Business for Homes event in Smock Alley Theatre in Temple Bar, Dublin. The event focused on the impact that the housing crisis is having on the business community, their employees and how more and more people at work are entering homeless services. The event heard from speakers including Philip Crowe (Space Engagers) Lorraine Higgins (Retail Excellence Ireland) and Ronan Lyons (Trinity College Dublin). Peter McVerry Trust would like to thank all those who supported the event.
Limerick Art Event
Zombie Fun Run
The Shine Out of Darkness exhibition took place at the Limerick City Library in October as part of this year’s Opening Doors Appeal. The exhibition showcased white pencil portrait drawings on black paper by local artist Jennifer Allen. Speaking about her motivation behind the exhibition Jennifer Allen said “The number of people being impacted by homelessness in Limerick and throughout the country has reached epidemic proportions. 30% of the proceeds of all sales from the exhibition will go directly to Peter McVerry Trust. Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said the charity was delighted to have Jennifer’s support “Funds raised by Jennifer will enable us to respond better to the needs of people in homelessness, particularly in Limerick where we’re working hard to a deliver a housing led solution.”
The 5th annual Zombie Fun run organised by Marino College ETB and supported by students across Dublin City ETBs took place in Fairview in late October.
e Halloween Zo ng part in th mbie Fun Run Students taki at the Fun Run Marino Cge of Furt e bi m Zo n her Educatio Hallowee r he rt n Fu of ge lle at Marino Co n io Educat
Facebook Live – Opening Doors As part of the Opening Doors appeal, Peter McVerry Trust hosted a Facebook Live broadcast from the apartment of one of our Housing First tenants, Barry Gannon. Barry sat down for a cup of tea with CEO of Peter McVerry Trust Pat Doyle, to talk about his life since moving into his new apartment earlier this year. Barry and Pat met in 1994; Barry was 16 and living in a juvenile facility, while Pat was working there on a social care placement. It was also through Barry that Pat first met, and began working and collaborating with, Fr Peter McVerry. Barry talked about the positive impact that having his own place has had on his life and relationships. He spoke about how he loves to have his daughters and grandchild over to visit him.
Pat Doyle, CEO Peter McVerry Trust, Barry Gannon, Peter McVerry Trust Housing First tenant, Orla Kerbey Head of Fundraising Peter McVerry Trust
We would like to thank Barry, the face of our 2017 Opening Doors appeal for welcoming us into his apartment for the broadcast and The video can be viewed on the Peter McVerry Trust for the lovely cup of tea! Facebook page, facebook.com/petermcverrytrust
New Homeless Services New Family Hub - Athy, Co. Kildare In July, Peter McVerry Trust, in partnership with a new Family Hub service was opened by the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy in Athy, Co. Kildare. The service operates on a Supported Temporary Accommodation model and our aim is to secure housing solutions as quickly as possible for families who come to access the family hub. The new service can accommodate up to 7 families at a time. The hub is located in a former Dominican Priory building. The property was reconfigured and modernised to meet the emergency accommodation needs of families in the Kildare area.
Martin Heydon TD, Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, Pat Doyle, CEO Peter McVerry Trust
New Family Hub - Swords, Co. Dublin The Fingal County Council – Peter McVerry Trust family hub in Swords, North Dublin has been operational since July 2017. The property can provide accommodation for up to 5 families and again the priority is providing families who have become homeless with high quality emergency accommodation whilst we help them to secure a housing moving on. Sylvia and her family where the first family to access the Swords Family Hub having lost her rental accommodation in Blanchardstown. After three weeks with the support of Peter McVerry Trust staff, she and her family secured new rental accommodation and exited homelessness. “I got support from Peter McVerry Trust after I got in contact with the county council looking for help. The support from Peter McVerry Trust continued after they found a rental property for me, and now I’m enrolled in a new college course. I work during the night so that I can study during the day.”
Fundraising News and Events 2017 Challenge Events 2018
Challenge Events 2017 Our Irish and overseas challenge events proved very popular in 2017 with lots of new faces, and returning friends participating in both the Long Walk Home series and our overseas events. Peter McVerry Trust would like to say a special thank you to everyone who took part and helped raise vital funds to support our work. Details of our 2018 challenge events can be found below.
2018 Challenges Long Walk Home Series Waterford Greenway – Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th May 2018 St Kevin’s Way , Co Wicklow – Sunday, May 27th 2018 Trek Camino 2018 Saturday 1st to 8th September 2018. Overseas Challenges Have you ever wanted to trek the Inca Trail, climb mount Kilimanjaro or walk the Great Wall of China? Contact us today to find out how you can support Peter McVerry Trust while completing an amazing challenge. To find out more about our 2018 events, please visit www.pmvtrust.ie or call our fundraising team on +353 (0)1 823 0776
Dates for your Diary
Streetsmart
Challenge yourself in 2018 and raise funds for Peter McVerry Trust.
We are delighted to announce that Streetsmart has once again chosen Peter McVerry Trust as one of their charity partners. Participating restaurants add a €2 donation to Peter McVerry Trust to customers’ bills during November and December. With plenty of restaurants already signed up, make sure to visit www.streetsmartireland.org before booking your Festive lunch this year to see a list of participating restaurants and support Peter McVerry Trust at the same time.
Great Limerick Run – Sunday 6th May 2018 Calcutta Run – 26th May 2018 Cork City Marathon – Sunday 3rd June 2018 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon – Monday 4th June 2018 Wexford Cycle - Saturday September 15th 2018 Opening Doors 2018 – October 8th – 14th 2018 Dublin City Marathon – Sunday 28th October 2018 New York City Marathon – Sunday 4th November 2017 To learn more about the any of the events above and how you can make a difference to people experiencing homelessness visit www.pmvtrust.ie/getinvolved or call +353 (0)1 823 0776
Corporate Christmas Appeal – help us raise €500,000 Help Peter McVerry Trust Turn the Key on homelessness, by supporting more people into their own homes this Christmas.
Turn the Key
Christmas Appeal
To find out how your company can help make a difference this Christmas, visit www.pmvtrust.ie/turnthekey or call +353 (0)1 823 0776.
Thank you to all of you who returned a tax form helping us raise an additional €124,260 in 2017. A merged tax rate if 31% is now in effect on all donations of €250 or more in one tax year from both PAYE and self-assessed donors. Further information is available at www.pmvtrust.ie
Peter McVerry Trust would like to wish all of our supporters a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Peter McVerry Trust, 29 Mountjoy Square, Dublin, D01 C2N4 T: + 353 (0)1 823 0776 E: info@pmvtrust.ie W: www.pmvtrust.ie Place of registration Dublin, Ireland. Registration number: CLG 98934. Registered Charity Number: 20015282