31.05.2019
A Place to Call Home – You Can Give A Family a Reason to Celebrate
As the A Place to Call Home campaign enters its final phase, parishes and individuals in Dublin & Glendalough are being urged to make one last effort to reach our target.
A Place to Call Home is the diocesan appeal which supports the work of the Irish Refugee Council’s transitional housing project. To date the dioceses have raised a total of €185,000. Much of this money has already been released to the IRC to assist people who have been granted refugee status in making a fresh start beyond the Direct Provision system. The dioceses have committed to raising €300,000 over a three year period.
The A Place to Call Home steering committee is extremely grateful to all who have supported the appeal so far. With six months left in the campaign the committee is urging people to continue their support to help raise the remaining €115,000.
According to the Department of Justice there are currently (May 2019) 686 people who have come through the asylum process and been granted refugee status but who have been unable to move on from Direct Provision.
A Place to Call Home provides crucial supports for individuals and families who have survived conflict, trauma and loss to make a fresh start: in education, in employment, in living independently and in finding a place to belong in their local communities. The specialised support that the Irish Refugee Council, and other charitable organisations, provides relieves pressure on public services already stressed due the current housing crisis.
You can learn more about the project and hear from those who have benefited from IRC support in this video:
The steering committee is urging parishes to consider supporting the appeal by:
· Making a donation out of funds raised from your parish sale/fete;
· Holding a coffee morning, sponsored walk or similar activity over the summer to raise funds;
· Designating your Harvest collection (or a portion of it) in the autumn;
· Encouraging parishioners to commit for six months to a standing order towards the appeal
There are two posters, one for summer events and one for Harvest which can be downloaded from the A Place to Call Home page on the website.
To make a one off donation or to set up a standing order online the details are: 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.
Contributions can be forwarded by cheque to: the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, Church House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 (marked Housing Appeal).