Words from our CEO

Since Depaul’s inception we have delivered specialist services in line with our values as an organisation. Over the last decade we have been a voice and a place of comfort for those most in need in our society. We have stepped up when emergencies have arisen and taken chances to provide the best possible services and outcomes for our service users. As we move into a new strategic cycle this document will outline Depaul’s declaration of intent in supporting vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.

In the last 10 years’ homelessness has grown exponentially, particularly in the Republic of Ireland. Across both jurisdictions more people are experiencing homelessness than ever before. Many parts of society have now been affected. Depaul stepped up and met this challenge head on. We provided emergency accommodation when it was needed most, at the peak managing over 200 emergency beds. Through advocacy and partnership, we have reduced this number greatly. We believe there is a better way to meet the needs of those experiencing or at risk of homelessness on the island of Ireland.

However, as we move into a new cycle so too must our focus. Depaul believes services and interventions require greater balance. As an organisation we will work toward this. The overreliance on temporary and emergency accommodations must change. There needs to be a shift toward more prevention, community and housing-led services. This is something Depaul will strive for over the next number of years through this strategic plan.

Depaul believes there should be a greater emphasis on preventing homelessness as we progress. Services which provide a focus on prevention will not only stop homelessness but will also prevent other negative elements that come with homelessness. For example, anxiety, stress, poor mental health and poor health outcomes. Keeping people in their homes and in their communities is essential.

After years of hard work and planning, the foundations have been laid and now it is time to build upon them. To help build up our service users and the options for each one of them to move away from homelessness. In this respect the role of Depaul Housing and our housing-led service models will be pivotal. We have created Depaul Housing to pioneer long term housing options for people who use our services. The potential to support our Depaul service users is vast and it is our duty to realise this potential. Our housing- led approaches will work to support our mission of ending homelessness for vulnerable people. We believe we can transform more lives through Depaul Housing and housing-led work in the coming years.

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland are changing places, where homelessness can be felt across all parts of society. As an organisation Depaul must be vigilant. As we move forward we commit to taking a greater role in advocating for those we support, for the most complex individuals experiencing homelessness. In this respect Depaul plan to use our voice and expertise more to advocate for those we support, and work to drive change across our society.

We will continue to innovate, something Depaul has always been good at. Throughout our last strategic cycle, we have created pioneering services that work with the most marginalised people in society. We believe to truly make an impactful change, we need to identify trends around homelessness and in turn understand the need to innovate and diversify our service delivery. Through key partnerships and building relations we have made a real impact in many new areas. Diversity within our service delivery will continue to be an objective as we move forward.

We believe that our strategic vision outlined in this document will have a lasting impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Depaul has always been there for those on the margins of society and we will continue that tradition.