NOVAS’ 2024 Pre-Budget Submission

NOVAS’ 2024 Pre-Budget Submission urges government to increase funding for prevention services, increase housing supply, particularly for one-bed units of accommodation and to commit to sufficiently fund the delivery of homeless services and support.

The organisation has called on government for a simultaneous approach of increasing the supply of social and affordable housing through new builds and the accelerated use of vacant and other-purpose dwellings, while also investing in prevention support and serivces. This approach will create sustainable pathways from homelessness while also reducing the number of households becoming homeless to begin with.

NOVAS’ full Pre-Budget Submission, can be read here.

Citizens Assembly highlights high rate of deaths by drugs in Ireland

Today, the Heath Research Board presented the latest national data on drug related deaths in Ireland at the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use. The data revealed that Ireland has one of the highest rates of deaths by overdose or poisoning as well as non-poisoning drug related deaths in the EU. This is the first time since 2017 that such data has been made available in Ireland and the grim findings show that 409 people died of poisoning and in the region of 400 of non-poisoning, including 109 by hanging. These are the highest figures ever reported. The people who died were young, primarily under 45 years, indicating the burden of premature mortality on people who use drugs. More women than previously died by poisoning  and more than 50% had an underlying mental health issue.

Julie McKenna, NOVAS’ Senior Health and Recovery Manager described the data ‘as deeply troubling’. She said that for people working in the sector the data confirmed their fears relating to the number of drug-related deaths in Ireland. She noted the devastating impact these deaths have on families, communities and our wider society and that this high number of deaths is despite much wider use of naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses opioid overdose, in drugs and homeless services since 2017.’ She described the importance of harm reduction techniques such as the administration of naloxone in saving lives; ‘we need to reduce the harm caused by taking drugs and incorporate the lived experience of drug users and their families in responding to addiction and promoting recovery. Here in NOVAS we roll out a peer-led overdose prevention and response programme with our clients, many of whom have prevented overdose and saved lives in our homeless services and in the wider community.’

McKenna called for an integrated, cross-departmental government response to the findings. She urged ‘an immediate shift on how we view and respond to addiction in Ireland. It needs to be tackled from a health-led perspective, with emphasis on recovery and treatment, rather than an approach led by the criminal justice system. This will reduce the stigma and shame surrounding drug use and encourage people in addiction to seek support and treatment earlier. It will transform how we respond to drug use in this country, which right now is wholly inadequate and simply does not work. These finding tell us that.’

Drug use and patterns have become more complex with poly-drug use of a variety of substances becoming increasingly common. Dual diagnosis of mental health and addiction must be treated in tandem so that clients are not bounced from mental health to addiction services, while their health deteriorates and they remain untreated. This is deeply traumatizing for clients and compounds feelings of shame and alienation often associated with addiction. More targeted funding, more treatment and post-treatment support and accommodation is necessary. Viewing addiction as a health issue is fundamental to effectively responding to people who use drugs.

ENDS

Note for editors

 

NOVAS set up its first service in Ireland in 2002. Funded by the HSE and the Department of Housing, it provides services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, in addiction or on the margins of society. We are an Approved Housing Body, providing social housing in the areas we work.

 

For Further information, contact Una Burns on 061 370325, 083 1083726 or una.burns@novas.ie

Limerick Mayor recognises lifesaving achievement of TOPPLE graduates

Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Francis Foley welcomed recent graduates of TOPPLE (The Overdose Prevention Peer Learning Experience) to the Limerick City Hall chambers with members of their families to present them with certificates of achievement to mark their graduation from this life saving NOVAS training programme.

NOVAS Health & Recovery Manager Julie McKenna explained that “TOPPLE was developed by NOVAS to teach clients how to recognise the signs of a potential overdose, how to alert emergency services, how to provide immediate first aid and importantly, how to support someone who has recently experienced an overdose to prevent a reoccurrence. She noted that the value of TOPPLE was recognized when it won the Best Patient Lifestyle Education Award at the Irish Healthcare Awards in 2014.’

Sadly drug related deaths in Ireland are three times higher than the European average according to the most recent statistics. 48% of drug related deaths in Ireland were a direct result of poisoning by overdose and the rest resulted from other medical emergencies such as heart failure resulting from drug use. Three in five deaths from drug use occurred while a person was alone.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Una Deasy, CEO of NOVAS said “We are so proud of the effort these clients have put into developing their skills and we know from experience that these clients will go on to save lives in their community. Understanding how to reduce harm, keep people safe and share the knowledge they have learned will have huge knock on impacts”

The NOVAS Health & Recovery team look forward to welcoming more clients through this important training in the coming year as they look to expand this programme, which was developed in Limerick, into a national service. NOVAS offers housing and support services to those at risk of, or experiencing homelessness with particular expertise in the areas of addiction, recovery and mental health

NOVAS Christmas Sleep-Out

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE CHRISTMAS SLEEP-OUT 2021?

Friday 16th of December in Limerick city

WHAT TIME DOES IT START AND END?

The event starts at 7pm and ends at 7am the next morning

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

You can take part by sleeping out on December 16th and raising sponsorship – we will provide you with a sponsorship card. Contact us at sleepout@novas.ie and we will post a card or two out to you.

I DON’T WANT TO RAISE SPONSORSHIP, CAN I STILL GET INVOLVED?

If your community group would like to take part as a group and collect on the night, please contact us to arrange this. You can also send donations via our website (https://www.novas.ie/donate/)

DO I NEED TO STAY ALL NIGHT?

Ideally we would like as many people as possible to complete the 12 hours, however we understand that not everyone will be able to do this and we would love you to join us anyway.

CAN I BRING MY CHILDREN?

All under 18’s must be accompanied to a maximum of two children per adult. Under 14’s must be off the street by 10pm and under 18’s off the street by midnight.

DO I NEED TO BRING A SLEEPING BAG AND OTHER CAMPING GEAR?

Yes. We will not be providing camping equipment. Please feel free to bring blankets, sleeping bags, mats, cardboard etc. One or two small tents always creates a strong visual impact.

SHOULD I BRING FOOD?

There is no need. We will have refreshments on the night, including teas, coffee, soup, sandwiches, goodies and other finger food. Let us know if you have special dietary requirements. This is an ALCOHOL FREE event.

IS THERE A COLLECTION ON THE NIGHT?

Yes, we will be holding a bucket collection on the night. All participants will be provided with a permit and collection materials. We will have t-shirts also.

 

We are looking for as many people as possible to take part in the NOVAS Sleep-Out this year to help raise much needed funds to support homeless services throughout the region this Christmas. 

If you are interested in sleeping out with us on December 16th, email sleepout@novas.ie

Participants will receive a sponsorship card. Donate online at www.novas.ie/donate

NOVAS respondes to budget 2023 announcements

NOVAS welcome the ‘Cost of Living’ budget, introduced by government this afternoon, Tuesday 27th of October. Once-off measures including additional payments for people in receipt of social welfare and support towards energy bills will help households who are struggling the most. Increases to the fuel allowance, additional needs allowance and working family payments will also support people on the margins this winter, including many of the clients and tenants that NOVAS work with.

We warmly welcome the tax on vacant properties as part of budget 2023. This measure is directed at increasing availability of housing and maximising the potential of our existing built environment. This is an important addition to accessing existing property in terms of reducing environmental impact as well as increasing our supply of housing. The use of vacant properties in our towns and cities, often situated above retail property, has the potential to house single homeless people, through models such as Housing First. Considering the length of time single people spend homeless, this is a very welcome development.

However, more targeted interventions are required to tackle the unprecedented housing and homeless crisis. With an exodus of landlords from the market and a subsequent rise in evictions-to-sell, the budget provides few incentives to keep such landlords in the market. Una Burns, Head of Policy and Communications noted that, ‘last year some 75% of exits from homelessness were via the private rented market. It is a vital valve to alleviate pressures on homeless services and provide exit pathways for people experiencing homelessness, but access to the market is increasingly precarious with contracting supply and rising rents’. Until more social and affordable homes and cost rental properties come on stream, we are very dependent on the private rented market. She continued to say that, ‘we are disappointed with the levels of support offered to both renters and landlords in this regard’.

While a tax credit to renters to the tune of €500 per annum is helpful to people who do not receive rent supports, it does not consider the large top-ups many renters in receipt of HAP are forced to pay, as the gulf between HAP rates and actual cost of renting grows. On this point, additional increases in HAP payments, while not a long-term solution, would have enabled low-income households to compete more equitably for scare rental property.

This budget combined with the Housing for All plan introduced last year signals a committment by government to substantially increase the supply of social and affrodable housing. This is positive, however, until this supply comes on stream, we must protect existing supply in the private rented market as homeless figures reach unprecendented levels.

NOVAS pre-budget submission

NOVAS have launched its 2023 Pre-budget submission.

We recognise that there will be significant pressures on the 2023 budget, with many sectors of society requiring additional support and funding. However, those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness as well as socially and economically marginalised households, must be prioritised. The latest homeless statistics released by the Department of Housing (July 2022) reveal unprecedented numbers of people accessing emergency and temporary homeless accommodation. In addition, there are many more people who are hidden homeless, people who are living in squats, in substandard and overcrowded accommodation, sofa-surfing and involuntary sharing, who are not recorded in any official data. Budget 2023 must protect the most vulnerable and stem the tide of people becoming homeless in this state.

NOVAS’ pre-budget submission calls for

  • HAP rates that reflect the current rent costs.
  • Additional one-bed units to be developed in general and social needs housing stock, to reflect the demand for these properties.
  • Increased Housing First targets.
  • Incentives for small landlords to stay in the sector.
  • Ring-fenced health budget specifically for people experiencing homelessness.
  • Tageted interventions and protections for economically marginalised households.

The full submission can be viewed here.

TOPPLE participates graduate from peer programme

This morning, Friday 13th of May, we celebrated the graduation of our TOPPLE participants at NOVAS’ Head Office.

TOPPLE is a peer support programme, training NOVAS clients to prevent and respond to overdose. These graduates help to save lives by identifying when someone might be at risk of overdose and learning the skills to respond to overdose when it occurs.

We are delighted for this group, who turned up every week, despite lots of challenges in their lives. Congratulations to all our graduates.

This is our first graduation in more than two years. We are very happy to be resuming group work, post-Covid and look forward to celebrating more graduates in the coming month.

NOVAS appoints new CEO to oversee national service delivery

National housing and homeless charity NOVAS have appointed a new CEO. Following the retirement of the incumbent, Una Deasy has been appointed to lead the organisation. With its Head Office in Limerick City, Novas is the largest provider of homeless services in the Mid-West and also delivers supports in Cork, Kerry and Dublin. Last year the organisation worked with more 5,000 people.

Prior to Novas, Una was part of the Saint Vincent de Paul’s Homeless Services Senior Management team, supporting and developing residential and outreach services across the country. Una has a range of experience in the private sector and not-for-profit organisations including Trócaire, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Amazon and Apple, leading projects and people in a range of areas. Una holds a Masters in Learning and Development, a Diploma in Management and Employee Relations and is completing Postgraduate studies in Innovation.

Una explains that, “for me, leading the organisation to meet the needs of those most vulnerable in our communities with a trauma informed, person-centered approach is critical. We want to efficiently and creatively provide excellent care to our clients and tenants and build sustainable futures with them.’ She acknowledges the huge challenges that face the sector, noting ‘the unprecedented cost of living combined with the dearth in long-term housing has resulted in more people than ever seeking our support. We, as an organisation, are ready to play our part in creating sustainable solutions to the crisis in collaboration with our partners in government. We commit to creating services that are agile to the evolving needs of our clients.’

Una assumed her new position in February 2022 and looks forwards to strategically leading NOVAS in the coming years and to creating lasting solutions to homelessness.

Novas Youth Homelessess Strategy submission

Submission to the Youth Homelessness Strategy Consultation

About NOVAS

NOVAS is a national housing and homeless charity, providing supports and services to more than 5,500 people annually. We provide services throughout Munster and in Dublin, including homeless accommodation, social housing, Housing First, disability services, addiction and recovery services and dedicated services for young people who are at risk of homelessness.

Opened in 2007, DIAL (Developing Independent Active Living) House is a six-bed residential service which accommodates care leavers with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues, at risk of falling into the cycle of homelessness. It provides a safe, home-like environment for residents. DIAL House offers a two-year life programme to clients and residents, teaching them skills in cooking, cleaning, paying bills and money management, in a bid to equip them for independent living. Peer led learning is at the core of the DIAL ethos. To complement in-house training, all residents are actively encouraged to participate in further education. DIAL also offers an out-reach programme, for young adults living independently in the community, who require tenancy sustainment and life-skills training support. DIAL House provides accommodation and community support for young people throughout the Mid-West and collaborates with Tusla, the local authorities in the region and the HSE.

NOVAS also operates Bellevue House, a six-bed residential service for unaccompanied minors from outside the EU, seeking asylum. It is a long-term specialised Children’s Service, catering for minors between the ages of 12 and 18. Young people who leave the service at 18 years are supported to live in the community or in their transition to the direct provision system. NOVAS also supports young people who experience homelessness as part of their household, through its family services.

NOVAS is a member of national and European advocacy groups, including The Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, which has campaigned for a national strategy on youth homelessness since 2017.

Recommendations

The number of young adults in emergency homeless accommodation in Ireland has nearly doubled in the last six years. The monthly Homeless Report for January 2022 shows that 1,111 people aged between 18 and 24 accessed emergency accommodation.[1] This is a significant rise in the last twelve months. We know that there are many more young people, who experience ‘hidden homelessness’ (couch surfing, rough sleeping, overcrowded, tenuous and substandard accommodation), who are not enumerated in official figures. Young people who have experience of state care, young people from the LGBTQI community and young people with fractured family relationships are particularly vulnerable to homelessness.

As service providers it is incumbent on all of us to prevent homelessness and provide interventions that prevent pathways into large, emergency, hostel-style accommodation, where high-risk behaviours, drug use and institutionalisation can become more entrenched.

  1. Redefine the definition of a Young Person:

Extend the definition of Young Person to 16-24 years (currently 18-24 years), so that at-risk young people are supported before they turn 18 and more prevention measures are put in place.

Homelessness among young people is not random. Children who have experience of state care or state interventions in their households are more likely to become homeless as young adults. So too are children who grow up in overcrowded housing (including young mothers), young people from minority backgrounds, young people who identify as LGBTQI and young people who have experienced significant trauma in their childhood. Extending the definition provides greater opportunity for interventions before adulthood, thus preventing homelessness altogether. Extending the definition of a young person to include the years prior to adulthood is essential to the success of the Youth Homeless Strategy.

  1. Family Support and Mediation Services:

As indicated throughout this submission, the trajectory for young people into homelessness is very often tracked from early childhood. Young people who grow up in homes that experience significant social and economic marginalisation, overcrowding, addiction and trauma are over overrepresented in youth homeless figures. Knowing this allows greater scope for early intervention. Intensive supports, including mediation, in these households is a critical prevention tool. Such intensive support should be targeted at both the young person and the parents in the household. There should be significant emphasis on maintaining and restoring relationships between teenage children and their parents as youth homelessness often derives from family breakdown. A multidisciplinary approach to identifying and supporting at-risk families is essential.

Restore full payment of Job Seekers Allowance for Young people under 25 years:

An unintended consequence of reducing Job Seekers payment for young people more than a decade ago was the acceleration of pathways into homelessness and blocking exits from homelessness among at-risk young people. This practice must cease and restoration of full payment must be immediate so that young people have the same opportunities as other cohorts to live independently.

Continued Aftercare for Young People beyond 21 years:

Aftercare must be provided to all young people who have experienced state care up to the age of 24 years (as per the definition of a young person), irrespective of their education status. By linking Aftercare support to education, marginalised young people who have often experienced disrupted education as children, are further discriminated against.

Moreover, dedicated Aftercare workers must be assigned to young people in a timely and orderly fashion (before they turn 18) so that safe and trusting relationships can be developed and collaborative planning can take place between the young person and their Aftercare worker.

Dedicated housing options for young people:

The provision of dedicated housing options for young people, including Housing First for Youth, is essential to prevent pathways into large, low-threshold hostels for this vulnerable group. A combination of visiting and on-site supported housing options should be available to at-risk young people. Sufficient single units of social housing stock is essential to meet the needs of young people. Elevated HAP payments are essential so young people can compete for scare units of accommodation in the private rented market.

DIAL House is an excellent model of care and support. Placements are planned and staged and the inclusion of a respite bed gives young people the opportunity to experience living there before making a long-term commitment. The respite bed also supports young people in crisis who require emergency placement, who otherwise might be placed in large STA accommodation. The combination of residential and outreach support, provides a range of options for young people, some of whom are reluctant to live with on-site supports. We believe an emulation of this model in other parts of the country, as well as a similar service that caters for low-threshold young people would be very beneficial for young people at risk of homelessness.

A recent SROI (Social Return On Investment) analysis into the DIAL House model of residential and outreach support, found that the service generated a social value of between €5.30 to €6.26 for every €1.00 invested in the service. The analysis found that DIAL House offers a unique mixture of accommodation and life skill training to help young people with preparing for transition into adulthood. It creates important outcomes for young adults who are leaving care or are at-risk of homelessness, such as an increased ability to live independently, improved mental wellbeing, increased social support and better coping and resilience skills. These have potential to change the course of young people’s lives, by setting them up to progress to independent living, education and employment, and avoid negative experiences, such as homelessness, addiction or unemployment. DIAL House significantly benefits young people who are transitioning from care to living on their own, especially individuals with complex, intersecting needs including poor mental health, substance misuse, learning difficulties or lack of practical support in their lives.[2]

Interactions with Young People should be rooted in Trauma Informed Practice:

Young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have often experienced considerable trauma and multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences. All services supporting young people should be rooted in Trauma Informed Practice (TIP), developing safe and nurturing relationships between young people and staff and ensuring sustained engagement in services. The six principals of Trauma Informed Practice – safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment and consideration of history and culture – help to create better services for young people. Committing to train staff in TIP ensures that staff can recognise trauma induced behaviours, are equipped to deescalate such behaviours and are much less likely to unintentionally re-traumatise a young person engaged in their service. This creates opportunities for sustained engagement and better outcomes for young people experiencing homelessness.

NOVAS Christmas Sleep-Out – FAQs

When and where is the Christmas Sleep-Out 2021?

Friday 17th of December in Limerick, Ennis, Tralee and Thurles.

What time does it start and end?

The event starts at 7pm and ends at 7am the next morning

How do I get involved?

You can take part by sleeping out on December 17th and raising sponsorship – we will provide you with a sponsorship card. Contact us at sleepout@novas.ie and we will post a card or two out to you.

I don’t want to raise sponsorship, can I still get involved?

If your community group would like to take part as a group and collect on the night, please contact us to arrange this. You can also send donations via our website (https://www.novas.ie/donate/)

Do I need to stay all night?

Ideally we would like as many people as possible to complete the 12 hours, however we understand that not everyone will be able to do this.

Can I bring my children?

All under 18’s must be accompanied to a maximum of two children per adult. Under 14’s must be off the street by 10pm and under 18’s off the street by midnight.

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag and other camping gear?

Yes. We will not be providing camping equipment. Please feel free to bring blankets, sleeping bags, mats, cardboard etc. One or two small tents always creates a strong visual impact.

Should I bring food?

There is no need. We will have refreshments on the night, including teas, coffee, soup, sandwiches, goodies and other finger food. Let us know if you have special dietary requirements.

Is there a collection on the night?

Yes, we will be holding a bucket collection on the night. All participants will be provided with a permit and collection materials. We will have t-shirts also.

We are looking for as many people as possible to take part in the NOVAS Sleep-Out this year to help raise much needed funds to support homeless services throughout the region this Christmas. This year, we have Sleep-Out events in Limerick, Ennis Tralee and Thurles.

If you are interested in sleeping out with us on December 17th, email sleepout@novas.ie

Participants will receive a sponsorship card. Donate online at www.novas.ie/donate

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