novas-admin, Author at NOVAS

56 Mitchel St, Thurles Story

Posted on May 14, 2025June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

Letter of appreciation from a person who was one of the first tenants in our new service in Thurles.

When I was first told I would be accommodated in Mitchel Street I was of course happy, but a little apprehensive as local rumors about it weren’t good.

When I met the two managers on my first day, they were so friendly and made me feel so welcome. I relaised immediately that all the negative talk about this house was false. The house was inviting and warm, it was a home away from home. The facilities were very good, everything I needed was provided. 56 Mitchel Street was not just a place to sleep, it was much more that that, it helped me improve my life skills and I learned so much.

After a few days in the house I was settled in. I felt safe there. There were so many benefits in staying at 56 Mitchel Street for me, I felt welcome and wanted and part of a big family.

The staff were amazing in the house, they always looked out for my best interests and always made sure I was safe. If I had any worries they always listened to me. Day or night the staff were always there for me and I found that very reassuring.

Now I am moving on to my own apartment and I feel really confident in living on my own. The staff have taught me everything I need to know about budgeting and paying rent and basic life skills. I am of course very sad to be leaving but I now feel I am totally ready to move on and I feel that somebody else can benefit from my place in 56 Mitchel Street.

The staff have been very supportive in my decision to move out. They are amazing people and have become more than just staff to me, I would count them as friends, friends that have changed my life for the best and I am sincerely grateful to everyone of them.

Homeless figures reach new high, as February data is published

Posted on March 28, 2025June 17, 2025 by novas-admin

Homeless figures reached another new high of 15,378 in February 2025, as data was published today by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Excluding the anticipated seasonal drop in December, the number of people who are homeless has grown every month over the last year. In total, there has been an increase of 11.1% from February 2024 and there are now 2,185 families including 4,653 children living in emergency accommodation.

The Department of Housing’s new Statement of Strategy must reflect these rising numbers and commit to bold and innovative action to solve the crisis. We must reaffirm our national commitment to ending homelessness by 2030., which is bound the acceleration of housing supply.

The rise in Limerick is particularly stark. Across the twelve-month period from February 2024 to February 2025, the number of people experiencing homelessness there increased by 28%. The proportional increase in the month from January to February was 3%.

Limerick Business Breakfast 2025 in support of NOVAS

Posted on February 10, 2025June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

On Monday morning, 10th of February, more than 350 people attended a Business Breakfast in the Castletroy Park Hotel in support of NOVAS services in Limerick. The event, which was kindly hosted by Pat McDonagh and The Castletroy Park Hotel shone a spotlight on the issues of homelessness and addiction.

Guest speakers Dr. Tim O Connor, former senior Irish diplomat and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland and Ciaran Carey former intercounty hurler and addiction counsellor & specialist, were joined by elected representatives from the city and county including Deputy Conor Sheehan, T.D., Deputy Richard O Donoghue, T.D. Deputy Kieran O’ Donnell, T.D., Senator Maria Byrne and local counsellors.

More than 350 delegates from Limerick’s business community attended the early morning event, as a show of support for the national homeless organisation, which is headquartered in Limerick City. Nationally, NOVAS work with more than 6,000 people annually and provide a range of services in Limerick and the wider Mid-West region, including emergency homeless accommodation, social housing, family and child services, recovery services and street outreach.

Speaking about the event, NOVAS CEO, Una Deasy thanked everyone for their ‘immense support and generosity in attending the event this morning, particularly our gracious host, Pat McDonagh, The Castletroy Park Hotel and our wonderful organising committee, for making this event possible’. She outlined the organisation’s commitment to working with partners in government to ‘help solve the ongoing housing and homeless crisis in the region and to support the most vulnerable people in our local communities.’

The sell-out event was a wonderful success and an active demonstration of the commitment of local businesses to helping to solve social issues in the region.

The Irish Homeless Policy Group publish 10 key actions on homelessness for the incoming Government

Posted on January 7, 2025June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

The Irish Homeless Policy Group, made up of organisations working at the frontline of the housing and homelessness crisis, have come together to outline 10 key actions on homelessness they are calling on the next government to include in the Programme for Government the parties are currently negotiating.

The organisations held a special event at Buswells Hotel (Tues Jan 7th, 2025) as the latest figures just issued last Friday show a record total of 15,199 people who are now homeless.

These actions are:

1. Develop collaborative structures to end homelessness.

Solving homelessness is a complex issue requiring persistent Government attentiveness and will require shared problem solving. The next Government should agree on new collaborative structures, with Cabinet support, for developing and implementing a new homelessness strategy with local authorities, relevant State bodies and organisations at the front-line.

2. Build Enough Homes

Ensure that over 55,000 homes are constructed each year to meet housing need across Irish society, including at least 15,000 new social homes to tackle the housing crisis and address homelessness. Work towards the goal of 20% of housing being social and cost rental, in line with the recommendations of the Housing Commission Report, to meet both the deficit and future need. Build the right kinds of homes such as one-bed and two-bed homes for smaller households, and larger homes for families stuck in homelessness, Traveller families, and families with status trapped in Direct Provision for years.

3. End Long-Term Homelessness by 2030 Set the goal of making sure no one is homeless for longer than 6 months by the end of the next Government term (2030), by dedicating 10% of new social housing supply to already long-term homeless households.

Use the Housing Commission report as a key driver and policy roadmap to help achieve this ambitious goal.

4. Prioritise Homeless Prevention Measures Prioritise and adequately resource a comprehensive homeless prevention plan and early intervention measures to prevent homelessness from occurring and reoccurring.

5. Ensure that nobody has to sleep rough, regardless of legal status.

Ensure that there are sufficient emergency beds so that no one ever has to rough sleep. In particular, ensure that everyone who seeks international protection in Ireland is provided with suitable accommodation while their claim is being assessed. Guarantee greater coordination between departments, agencies, and local government so that every person in Ireland is guaranteed decent shelter, regardless of nationality, gender, or legal status.

6. Develop a strategy for Private Rental Sector Devise and implement a strategy for the private rental sector, on foot of the previous Government’s Private Rental Sector Review, setting out a clear vision for the sector and the role it will play in the wider housing landscape in the long-term.

A well-rounded strategy, based on good-quality data, will ensure a balanced, fair and sustainable rental market that benefits all.

7. Fully implement the Youth Homelessness Strategy Implement the current National Youth Homelessness Strategy (2023-25) and develop a new ambitious successor strategy from 2026 to eliminate youth homelessness.

8. Introduce range of measures to tackle issues facing homeless families Commit to enacting the Homeless Families Bill (2017) which would ensure that local authorities place the best interests of the child at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families. Adopt a Housing First for Families approach to address the housing and support needs of families with more complex needs.

9. Improve Mental Health services for people experiencing homelessness Improve mental health services for people experiencing homelessness – with more focus on harm-reduction measures and increased HSE funding for mental health, drug and alcohol interventions.

10. Improve the transparency of access to homeless services Improve the transparency of access to emergency accommodation and homeless services, including the introduction of a new appeals system that would provide written reasons for any refusals to access emergency accommodation and social housing. Ensure that all local authority staff receive updated training to provide greater awareness of housing law.

The full document is available here.

General Election 2024 – Use your voice

Posted on November 8, 2024June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

With an election just three weeks away, we are asking you to prioritise homelessness as an issue in the upcoming General Election. As canvassing ramps up in your local community, ask your candidates how they plan on tackling the crisis, should they be elected.

NOVAS has a number of asks relating to Housing Delivery, Homeless Services and Addiction and Recovery. Ask your candidates to support these and commit to ending long-term homelessness by 2030.

Housing

Revise housing targets and increase the supply of housing.
Build the right kinds of homes, including more one-bedroom units.
Ring-fence housing specifically for people facing long-term homelessness.
End child homelessness by making sure every child has a stable home.

Homeless Services

Guarantee high-quality services for those who need it.
Guarentee enough homeless services so no one has to sleep on the streets.
Focus on prevention services to stop homelessness before it starts.

Addiction and Recovery

Put all 36 recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on drugs into action.

When candidates come to your door, use your voice and ask them to play their part in ending homelessness! You can also email or write to candidates in your constituency and ask them to make specific committments, as outlined above. Here is a sample letter that you can email or post to all your candidates.

Together, we can make the housing and homeless crisis a top priority of the 2024 election camapign and of a newly formed government.

NOVAS TIP Seminar shines light on the positive impact of trauma informed practice

Posted on November 6, 2024June 17, 2025 by novas-admin

On Friday 25^th of October, NOVAS held its inaugural Seminar in Trauma Informed Practice. The event was opened by keynote speaker, Dr. Katriona O Sullivan, who gave insight into her experience of significant and enduring adverse childhood experiences and the importance of services to respond appropriately, to create opportunities and equity for people on the margins.

There was a range of speakers throughout the day with expertise in a variety of fields including housing and homelessness, addiction, migration, health inclusion and brain development. Speakers with lived experience, frontline roles and academic research shared their knowledge, compassion and experiences across the social and human sectors.

The conference was kindly hosted by Gardens International, a beautiful city centre location in Limerick. It provided a wonderful opportunity to learn, share knowledge and transfer good practice across sectors.

NOVAS Annual Report 2023 Launched 10th October

Posted on October 31, 2024June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

We proudly launched our 2023 Annual Report on the 10th of October, which highlights the growing homeless crisis, the ways in which we continue to respond to the growing demand for services and the impact of our work on the lives of our clients.

We were honoured to have John Moran, Mayor of Limerick, officially launch our 2023 Annual Report in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick. Huge thank you to our partners in government, especially Julie Brosnan, Manager of the Clare Homeless Action Team who so kindly spoke at the event. We would like to thank everyone who attended and to all those who support us in making a real difference!

You can read the NOVAS 2023 Annual Report HERE

Take part in the NOVAS School Sleep-Out 2024

Posted on October 8, 2024June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

The NOVAS School Sleep Out is an event designed to help raise funds and awareness for homelessness – it gives a small insight into the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.

Students get sponsored to brave the cold by swapping their warm beds for a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard. We’re asking you to join us and help end homelessness.

Your school can take part at any time of the year, and we will work closely with you to develop a personalised Sleep Out event.

We can support you along the way by providing:

Information about homelessness
Guidelines on how to organise a safe sleepout
An online donations page
Fundraising support, encouragement and advice
Marketing materials, t-shirts and signage

In addition to this, we would be happy to visit your school to enhance your students’ engagement in the event, celebrate your support across our social media channels and attend your event.

Your school’s support will make a real impact in your local community. If you’re interested in having a NOVAS Sleep Out at your school, we would love to talk to you.

For more information, please contact Jackie Leonard at jackie.leonard@novas.ie or call 086 176 4198.

To download our School Sleep Out information leaflet, click here

NOVAS Sleep-Out is back!

Posted on October 8, 2024June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

This year, the NOVAS Christmas Sleep-Out is taking place on Saturday 7th of December in Limerick City. We are thrilled that this flagship event in taking place again this year and are looking forward to meeting many of you on the street!

This is our largest fundraising event of the year, with all monies raised supporting our frontline services. To make this our most successful event ever, we need as many of you as possible to get involved; sleep-out on the night, make a donation or tell all your family and friends.

If you would like to participate in the event or have any questions on how to get involved, you can email jackie.leonard@novas.ie for further information.

To set up a fundraising page, click here.

#NovasSleepOut

Budget 2025 fails to increase housing targets, as access to housing the most pressing issue in the state

Posted on October 1, 2024June 19, 2025 by novas-admin

While this county is in a very healthy financial position entering Budget 2025, it is deeply disappointing that housing targets were not adjusted upwardly in line with recommendations of The Housing Commission report published earlier this year. Pascal Donaghue T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure, reiterated existing housing target of 10,000 social homes next year, as per Housing For All, costing €2billion. This is in the context of an estimated hosing deficit of 235,000 homes due to ongoing underdevelopment and supply.

To meet the existing development deficit and respond to growing levels of homelessness, housing targets need to be revised with urgency and reflect actual housing need rather than construction sector capacity.

Una Burns, Head of Advocacy and Communications with NOVAS, expressed ‘disappointment at the lost opportunity to increase housing targets and the subsequent capital budget for social, affordable and cost-rental housing, that this budget could have offered. This would have indicated an urgent commitment by government to stem the tide of homelessness with long-term, housing-led solutions. Notwithstanding this, NOVAS is heartened by the commitment to provide an additional €1.25billion to the Land Development Agency for the delivery of additional social and affordable housing and we look forward to seeing the impact this will have.’

There was also disappointment for renters in the private sector, who rely on rent supplement payments, with no indication of increases to HAP payments or other supplements to meet the growing cost of renting in this state over the last six years. Addition tax relief for pre-letting expenses for landlords is a welcome measure but falls short of a standard tax rate for rental income required to incentivise existing small landlords to stay in the markets as well as new entrants.

Notwithstanding these disappointments, there were some positive moves in the housing sector, including increased tax credits for renters, a higher rate of stamp duty for bulk acquisitions (15%) and an increase in the Vacant Homes Tax from five to seven times the value of the Local Property Tax.

There was also welcome inclusions in the social welfare package, supporting low income households, including an additional €12 per week on all social welfare payments, additional support for carers and people with disabilities and the roll-out of the School Meals Holiday Hunger pilot programme.

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Author: novas-admin