Gavin Killen

Thanks to your support, my sleep out could provide:

90

hours of one-on-one support for a child with a dedicated Child Support Worker

or

100

nutritious meals in the Focus Ireland Coffee Shop

or

139

hours access to Focus Ireland’s education service PETE (Preparation for Education, Training & Employment)

Mission Statement

Focus Ireland are driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. They work with people who need support to avoid becoming homeless and who need help to end their experience of homelessness and move into a safe and secure home. From the very beginning, their work has been rooted in deep listening to people, learning about the problems and risks they face and pointing to where the solutions lie.

I’m sleeping out against homelessness

I did my first sleep out for Sr Stan back in 5th Year in Belvedere toward in the mid 1980's. The Belvedere Sleep out sill goes on every year coming up to Christmas. Sr Stan became Focus Point, which then evolved to Focus Ireland, and we're still sleeping out.

We have systemic problem with homelessness in our country.

So once again I'm asking you to dig into your pockets and support me, and Focus Ireland.

Gav

This October 11, I'll be doing something a little different from my usual workday. Instead of going home at the end of day, I'll be swapping my cosy bed for a sleeping bag as part of my workplace sleep out to raise awareness and funds for Focus Ireland, the national organisation tackling homelessness in Ireland.

While the idea of spending a night outdoors in the cold might not sound appealing at first, the cause behind it fuels my motivation. Homelessness is a critical issue that affects countless people in our community, and I'm proud to be a part of my company’s effort that that aims to take a stand against homelessness.

The statistics around homelessness are staggering. With over 4,000 children experiencing homelessness, it's clear we need to take action. That’s why I think it is important to take part in my workplace sleep out as part of Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy. While a one-night sleep out is certainly not the same, it offers a glimpse into the vulnerability and hardship faced by thousands of people in Ireland without a safe and secure home.

By participating in this event, I hope to inspire others to get involved to raise funds to support vital homeless services. Please show your support by donating to my fundraising page: every contribution, big or small, gets us closer to creating a future where everyone has a safe place to call home.