This is a great support system which is badly needed in Ennis!! I myself was homeless from the age of 15 until present losing private accomadation due to a alcohol additicion!!! But i feel that the homeless unit in Ennis failed me because when i Tryed to get my life back on track after my 18th birthday i was put in bnb accomadation for 3 months and was given a weeks notice to leave the bnb because they felt i should have had a private Accomadation by then!!! I was left on d streets again and slept many nights on d streets pregnant alone and sacred!! I did try to find private Accomadation but found it very hard and to the present day i stil Do im currently livin in a homeless hostel for young mothers and expecting mothers in another county away from my family and friends!!

HELP Public Meeting – 10 September 2008

Summary
There are apparently around 260 registered homeless in Clare and probably others not registered. Drug abuse and alcoholism are significant issues. The problem is growing and there are no services provided by the authorities for the homeless after normal working hours or at weekends.
Josie plans to have drop-in centre premises in Chapel Lane up and running by the end of September. It is expected to open 7 days a week from 10.00-12.00h and 20.00-22.00h (though it is hoped it may open for longer in due course, resources permitting) and will provide a place for anyone in need to be treated with respect, to be listened to and helped with form-filling, advocacy, interfacing with the authorities, etc. The soup kitchen is expected to remain open for two lunchtimes each week as at present. Josie is the only person currently with insurance to cook food at home to bring to the drop-in centre and soup kitchen.
The main needs at present are for fund-raising and materials – estimated €10k pa to operate the centre; paint, furniture, etc to decorate and equip the centre; bedding and clothing. Manpower seemed to be less of a problem. However, Josie would welcome more committee members.
HELP has been asked to submit a proposal requesting funding to the Homeless Forum (an HSE, Clare CoCo and St Vincent de Paul initiative which is apparently seeking ideas and ways to help the homeless).

The Meeting
The meeting provided an opportunity to learn more about Josie’s work and for her to seek help and support from outside those currently involved.
Attendance was small but the meeting had not been widely publicised. Vincent, Regina, Kathy, Phil and Maddy were present. Most others seemed to be already familiar with the work of HELP or involved in some way.
Several present shared about their own struggles with addiction, homelessness, or family problems that had apparently highlighted for them the inadequacies in the services provided by the authorities and given them the heart to help. There was considerable endorsement and praise for Josie’s efforts to date.
HELP stands for Homeless Education and Learning Project and started in January 2008. It has helped addicts and alcoholics to fill in forms and find bed and breakfast accommodation for 1-2 nights, advised about social welfare, and provided advocacy for courthouse appearances.
A HELP committee was established in June 2008 to provide direction and focus.
Statutory bodies have suggested HELP becomes a limited company but liability issues are perceived as a stumbling block to the appointment of directors.
There was a range of opinions about the feasibility/benefits of obtaining charitable status (Kathy undertook to find and pass on information she has about this and others in EEC may be able to advise).
Garda Siochana are positive about the prospect of a drop-in centre.
Josie sometimes deals with individuals who have been referred to her by the local hospitals.
Help is needed with fund-raising. Activities carried out to date include a cake sale, benefit dance, jumble sale and street collection. An auction night is currently planned and ideas for items that could be auctioned and possible venues were requested to be passed to Josie.
The funds are required to cover bed and breakfast accommodation, drop-in centre rent, insurance, materials etc.
The premises in Chapel Lane are in need of “doing up”. There is a kitchen, toilet and two rooms. The premises have a downstairs and an upstairs.
The lease term for the premises is 4 years 9 months. There was concern expressed about the length of this commitment from a financial perspective and a view that there is a legal requirement for the lease to include a get-out clause (probably 6 months) for earlier termination. The lease has not yet been signed.
The minimum number of people necessary to man the centre at any time is two. There must be one male and one female and one must be

SARAH FINN ENNIS
DANNY O DONOHUE COROFIN
FREY BARRY