Tomorrow is International Overdose Awareness Day.
To mark this, local agencies have come together to organise a series of events from August 30th until September 4th.
Attached please find a poster and timetable of events. All events marked public are open. Everybody is welcome to attend these events.Together we can make a difference and work to improve overdose response and prevent overdose deaths in Limerick.
NOVAS’ Head Office and some of our outreach services have moved. Our head office staff, Housing First service and our Community Detox Outreach team are now based in 87 O’Connell Street, Limerick.
For further information on this move you can email tracey.mccarthy@novas.ie, give us a ring on 061 370325 or pop in to say hi.
Tomorrow night, Wednesday 16th of May, McGarry House residents are hosting a photography exhibition in the Limerick School of Art and Design. The exhibition launch takes place at 7pm.
Lisa, Jamie, Patrick, Eleanor and Jason, clients of the service, are exhibiting photos they took on a trip to Co. Clare. They participated in a recent project with one of our staff members, Katie. The images are really beautiful, depicting the rugged landscape of the area and the exhibition will remain in LSAD reception foyer until Friday, May 18th.
Both the launch and the exhibition are open to members of the public- the more the merrier!
All NOVAS accommodation services nationally will operate as normal throughout the Christmas period. We are also opening a new family hub for 12 families in Dublin on the 23rd December.
In Limerick, in partnership with the Limerick Homeless Action Team, we are extending our TEP service by eight individuals. This service which usually operates from 9am to 9pm will be opened throughout Christmas Day.
Our 24/7 helpline in Limerick will operate as normal 1800 606060.
Our Out-of-Hours and family service will operate from 12pm to 4pm daily throughout the Christmas period, including Christmas day.
Our Street Outreach will operate as normal also throughout the holidays.
If you need support in the Kerry region throughout Christmas ring Arlington Lodge on 066 7193800.
Today, Friday 10th November, NOVAS homeless services hosted a Seminar on Childhood Experiences of Homelessness in Limerick and launched their 2016 Annual Report.
An exhibition of photos chronicling the life of homeless families, presentations from a range of experts and a moving contribution from a mother, Kate, who has experienced homelessness with her four children, all portrayed the lived experiences of children in emergency accommodation, without security or stability.
The speakers: Dr. Sharon Lambert of the Department of Psychology in UCC, Nuala Ward, Director of Investigations with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, highlighted the profound impact of homelessness on children in terms of their play, education, development, nutrition and their physical and mental well-being.
Kate O Loughlin who was recently homeless with four children and pregnant described the behavioural changes in her young children while being homeless, which included bedwetting and being withdrawn. She described the ‘devastation’ she felt when there was no hotel available to take her and her four children and she had to ‘choose’ one to live with a friend during this period. This was particularly impactful on her eldest daughter, on whom the separation was very difficult. Kate and her children have been recently housed by NOVAS and are now thriving.
The seminar highlighted the impact of homelessness on children and also the opportunities to move families from emergency accommodation as soon as possible. NOVAS recently bought 33 family homes in Limerick and Dublin as a means of alleviating the crisis and work closely with local authorities in identifying properties and the families most in need.
NOVAS’ 2016 Annual Report also highlights the extent of child homelessness. Last year the organisation worked with 570 children in Limerick city and west Cork. The number of families presenting to its Limerick-based Intensive Family Support Service was 196, an increase of almost 100% from the previous year. The numbers accessing support continues to rise.
Throughout the twelve month period, NOVAS worked with more than 3,500 people, an increase of 47% from the previous year and 270% from 2010. Some 8% of all adults accessing their services were under 21 years of age, highlighting the declining age profile of the homeless population.
The organisation is responding to the crisis through the procurement of long-term housing, the development of homeless and ancillary services (such as respite and community detox) and the extension of its Housing First programmes in Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary.
NOVAS is hosting a Seminar on Childhood Experiences of Homelessness on Friday 10th of November in the Belltable Theatre, 69 O’Connell Street, Limerick.
A panel of national experts will present on a range of issues including; the impact of homelessness on children in relation to play, education, development and nutrition, the personal experiences of children living in emergency accommodation and the right to housing.
Speakers include Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, Nuala Ward, Director of Investigations with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and Dr. Sharon Lambert of the School of Applied Psychology in UCC.
The seminar will also include a photograph exhibition of transient living condition and a service user panel discussion, including families who have experienced homelessness.
NOVAS will also launch its 2016 annual report on the same day. The report highlights the increasing number of people availing of a NOVAS service. In the twelve month period, the organisation supported more than 3,500 people. This was an increase of 45% from the previous year and 270% since 2010. More than 550 children were supported by the organisation during the year.
The event will be held from 9am until 1.30pm. It is a free event but spaces are limited. To reserve a space email una.burns@novas.ie.
NOVAS’ Abigail Women’s Centre provides the only dedicated female homeless service in Dublin, providing support and accommodation to more than 30 women. The service is located in Finglas.
Despite the growing number of homeless women and the extensive public discourse on the issue of homelessness, the voice of single women remains largely unheard. This was something NOVAS was acutely aware of and thus The Abigail Women’s Centre engaged in a therapeutic project with the residents, as a means of supporting them to express their experiences of homelessness – how they became homeless, how it feels to be homeless and their hopes and dreams for the future.
The project was designed to have the voices of the women heard and for people to see beyond the label of homelessness, addiction and other stereotypes. A very moving quote from the project highlights the desire of these women not to be defined by their homelessness or addiction – There’s more to me that just a label with ‘alcoholic’ written on it. I am a sister, I am a mother, a niece. I have hobbies and I have dreams like everybody else.
The story and photographic exhibition resulted in 16 women cataloguing their story of homelessness through a written piece and photograph, which symbolised their personal experience. The project has been exhibited in the Centre since.
Three of these stories were recently brought to life by actors in three short films (approx. 2.5 minutes). The actors relay the exact words of the women in an effort to highlight the deep trauma of having nowhere to call home. The selected stories reflect the wide demographic of women accessing the service.
The first film, Baby Shoes relays a story of a young woman who has lost her son through homelessness.
The second video, Notebook explores the deep sense of loss and loneliness caused by homelessness.
And the final video, Boardgames highlights the devastating impact of addiction.
The project seeks to include the voice of homeless women in the current discourse on the issue.
The full Our Stories Matter project can be viewed here:
On Wednesday, NOVAS launched the evaluation of its Mid-West Respite Service, which provides vital supports for the families of people with substance misuse issues. It is the ‘only service of its kind’ in the state and although other respite houses exist in Ireland, none provide the same suite of services to their clients free of charge. It is funded entirely by the Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum.
While located in Newport Co Tipperary, it serves people from throughout the Mid-West region, with most clients emanating from North Tipperary and Limerick City. The report found that the service is delivered with ‘compassion and integrity’ by staff who are ‘highly skilled and trained professionals.’ It provides respite for families from the chaos attached to supporting loved ones who are active in drug and alcohol misuse. It provides a quiet space in a peaceful rural setting and allows families a break from the ‘overwhelming stress and worry’ that fills their everyday lives.
It is a vital service for communities throughout the Mid-West with demand continuing to exceed capacity. Upon opening in October 2009 it supported three families, compared to 125 families in the final quarter of 2016. From 2011 through 2015 the service has supported 1,229 clients.
Gearoid Prendergast, Co-ordinator of the MWRDAF, praised NOVAS and the staff of the Respite House for the ‘care and warmth’ they bring when working with family members who find themselves under considerable stress, because of a loved one’s substance misuse. He noted that ‘all too often, people are so focused on the person misusing substances, that they don’t see or understand the impact it has on them and the other members of the family.’
On the same day NOVAS also launched the extension of the existing respite house, with the transformation of the old garage to a new peer support room. The extension was facilitated by the GECAS Charity Committee, who donated their time and money to create a beautiful new space adjacent to the house. Julie McKenna, manager of the Respite House said she was ‘immensely grateful to GECAS for creating a beautiful space which has allowed the respite house to expand its capacity and support more vulnerable families in the region.’ Communications Manager, Una Burns went on to describe GECAS as ‘fantastic supporters of NOVAS who have contributed to a number of projects in the region, particularly in relations to the homeless families supported by NOVAS.’
On Tuesday 15th May NOVAS’ Brother Russell House held an art exhibition of the client’s work. The art included beautiful paintings and sculptures all created by the residents using material such as fish wire, coins, buttons, chalk and paint.
Twice a week art classes are taught in the service by artist Rachel Thunder, who sets up a studio in one of the apartments in situ. The classes run for two hours and are a therapeutic outlet for clients. They support residents to build confidence, are a means of communication and are a social outlet for residents that have difficulties engaging in the wider community.
Many of those participating in the classes suffer from mental, physical and sensory disabilities and art is a successful therapeutic engagement that enables them to express themselves in a new way. The residents were very excited to highlight their work at the exhibition and Deputy Manager of Brother Russell House, Denise Curtin, remarked on how important the occasion was for the residents; ‘the exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for the resident’s work to be recognised by a wider audience. They are so proud of what they have achieved and were blown away by the response to their art today. The art is a very important outlet for our clients who often experience difficulties expressing themselves. It has transformed some of their lives.’
Guests were treated to a beautiful lunch which was cooked by residents, following a four week training course by NOVAS’ cook Fionnuala O’Brien.
The service is currently fundraising for a new dedicated art space in the service that residents can ulitise at any time.
Listen to our interview on Limerick 95fm Radio yesterday that was recorded in our Winter Bed Initiative a couple of weeks ago, highlighting the service, which was developed in collaboration with The Limerick Homeless Action Team, as a response to the homeless crisis in the city.
The service first opened on the 19th of December to support people who were at risk of homelessness in the city. It supports up to 20 individuals a night and has had more than 1,400 presentations since first opening.
