Smart cross border solutions for homeless and disadvantaged people

A commitment to working with the most marginalised is central to what they do at Depaul. This has been demonstrated through the services that have grown each year - services that were the first of their kind, working with many people who had previously been turned away elsewhere.

Depaul provides accommodation and key services to people who many others struggle to work with – street drinkers, women in prison, families who others have given up on, those with behavioural, self-harm and addiction problems.

Established in Dublin in 2002, Depaul Ireland manages 12 specialised services between Dublin and Belfast and provides 303 bed spaces per night for homeless people. Each year Depaul Ireland supports over 1000 people make changes in their lives that will help them to move forward. We work with each person or family on a one to one basis to get the support they need to make the small or big changes in their lives to realise their own potential.

Depaul Ireland currently operate five accommodation projects in Dublin dealing with street drinkers, rough sleepers, those suffering from substance misuse and women released from Dochas prison. It also offers medical, outreach and Community Befriending services around the city.

In 2005 these services extended to Belfast establishing the first low threshold, harm reduction accommodation for entrenched alcohol users in Northern Ireland. There is also an outreach programme for young unemployed people, two family hostels and more recently, a hostel in Dungannon.  

Depaul Ireland works on the basis of non judgemental care and support, enabling the organisation to deal directly with those whose issues or addiction may mean other services may no longer be an option.

Effective and efficent 

Depaul demonstrates value for money through their administrative activities and service provision. For example,

• When Depaul opened in Northern Ireland the board chose to create it as a subsidiary to its already established Southern Ireland company. The rationale for this was to ensure the best use of resources, given the size of the island.
• Only 13% of our income goes on administration costs which allow us to use 87% of all income into direct work with service users.
• Highly experienced Senior Management team who manage both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, thus splitting associated costs across both jurisdictions and increasing value for money
• Joint quarterly project management meetings with our management team from all Southern and Northern projects are held to develop and best practice and share policies, ensuring no duplication of work across both organisations.

Saving money through prevention and education

In 2010 Depaul had 92% occupancy across our services and worked with 1135 homeless and disadvantaged people in 2009 on a budget of 8.5 million. Depaul offers a smart solution in tough times by offering a holistic service which reduces the need for more expensive interventions. For example,

• By providing tailored and professional on-site mental and physical health support to people and reduces their reliance on A and E services
• Reduced alcohol intake, improved diet and self-care is creating a marked improvement in our service users health and well being and less need for NHS interventions
• Providing engaging activities, one-to-one support and opportunities for the future is contributing to a reduction in recidivism
•  Providing weekly parenting and play sessions to up to 45 children and parents. These sessions educate young parents on the components needed for raising healthy children who are meeting their developmental milestones.

You can learn more about Depaul here