Open Letter to Business Leaders

Focus Ireland Issue Call to Irish Business Leaders to Help Address Homelessness Crisis

Dear Business Leaders of Ireland,

I am writing to you today with a deep sense of urgency and a heartfelt plea for your support in addressing one of the most pressing social issues facing Ireland today: homelessness.

Homelessness is now higher in Ireland than at any point in recent history. In the last year alone, the figures show increases of 14% in those experiencing homelessness and the number of children who are homeless rose by a shocking 17%. The latest figures are heartbreaking. Despite our current economic prosperity, more than 14,000 people, including over 2,000 families and over 4,300 children, are currently living unseen in emergency accommodation without a place to call home.

We know from the data that children growing up without stable housing are particularly impacted, experiencing severe setbacks in their education, health and overall well-being. Without proper support, children living in emergency accommodation can experience malnutrition, psychological issues, developmental delays and devastating lifelong consequences.

Will you join us to Shine A Light on Ireland’s homelessness crisis?

We invite you to join us, alongside our partners Bord Gáis Energy, at Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light sleep out on Friday October 11, on a national day of empathy and action for those in homelessness. By shining a light on this critical issue and raising vital funds to help take more people out of homelessness, together we can help reassure people experiencing homelessness that they are not forgotten.

A word from Dave Kirwan, Managing Director, Bord Gáis Energy, our corporate partner: “It has been our privilege to support Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light event since 2018. We cannot stress enough the importance of Focus Ireland’s work tackling homelessness. As business leaders, I believe our responsibility goes beyond our corporate walls to the communities we serve. I encourage CEOs, managing directors and senior executives to join me in the annual Shine A Light Business Leader Sleep Out on October 11. It’s not just about stepping outside our comfort zone for a night, it’s about raising vital funds for Focus Ireland, who are providing workable solutions to the problem. It’s also an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with colleagues and peers about this critical issue. By participating in Shine A Light, we can amplify our collective voice and influence, take our own practical action to help, and contribute to creating a fairer future for all.”

The business community can indeed help in practical ways. As business leaders, you have the resources and innovative capabilities to make a difference.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to meeting you on October 11 and we are confident that, with your leadership and commitment, we can make significant strides towards ending homelessness in Ireland.

Yours sincerely,
Pat Dennigan, CEO Focus Ireland