09.03.2018
Diocesan Refugee Housing Appeal Reaches €115,000 – 49 People Now Have a Place to Call Home
Donations to the Dublin & Glendalough Refugee Housing Appeal have now reached €115,000. Parishes and individuals throughout the United Dioceses have been supporting the project enthusiastically and are working hard to raise funds to make a difference for people who are emerging from Direct Provision.
Already €80,000 has been shared with the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) for their housing project. The appeal and its finances are under the governance of the dioceses.
The IRC’s holistic programme provides transitional accommodation for people who have been given refugee status in Ireland. This takes pressure off the individuals who find it almost impossible to access private rented accommodation in today’s market and in turn takes pressure off organisations who work with homeless people. The IRC programme also provides individually tailored supports to help people access education, employment, support services, health services and build social connections.
The fundraising target for the dioceses is €300,000 in three years and Archbishop Michael Jackson has thanked everyone who has played a part in reaching the current total. “I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the Diocesan Housing Appeal. The appeal enables every one of us to make a positive difference. Cooperation with other relevant agencies enables us to make every contribution a significant contribution. In thanking everyone for generosity to date I wish to offer encouragement to all to help us meet our target of €300,000 inside three years,” he stated.
Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council said that the funds raised provide vital support for the project. “The amount raised represents a fantastic effort and is an invaluable contribution to this project. It means that we can expand and develop the project to house and accommodate more people and also offer other holistic supports. This fundraising call is also a two way process and we would be delighted to meet and engage with church groups, schools and communities to talk about the project, its impact and also our wider work.”
Geoffrey Perrin of Diocesan Councils, who is a member of the subcommittee coordinating the appeal, said they are very encouraged by the response so far. “The committee is working on a number of ideas which we hope to roll out to parishes and schools this summer and autumn. It is very clear to us that not just is this an imaginative project, it is trying to address one of the major problems in our society today and is somewhere where the church can really contribute,” he said.
The Revd Abigail Sines, Dean’s Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral, which was recently designated Ireland’s first Cathedral of Sanctuary, is also a member of the subcommittee. “It is heartening that the people of the United Dioceses have chosen to give generously in this past year towards a project which makes a direct impact on the lives of those so desperately in need of a welcome and a place to call home. Alongside contributing to these fundraising efforts, we in Christ Church have worked toward our Cathedral of Sanctuary designation, seeking ways to engage with those in the asylum process and living in Direct Provision to welcome them to our city,” she commented.
So far the IRC project has seen 49 people accommodated, of whom 31 are children, in 11 properties.
To contribute to the appeal, cheques can be sent to: the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, Church House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 (marked Housing Appeal). Donations can be lodged directly to: DIOCESAN FUNDS OF DUBLIN AND GLENDALOUGH, Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2, BIC: BOFIIE2D, IBAN: IE50 BOFI 9000 1769 3548 78, Reference: Housing appeal.
