Focus Ireland is calling on Cork businesses to join the fight to end child homelessness by sleeping out for Shine A Light on World Homelessness Day, Friday October 10.
Over 660 people are currently homeless in Cork City and county with the charity saying no child should be without a home as figures reveal that 5,000 children are homeless in Ireland
The charity recently carried out a survey, conducted by Empathy Research, revealing that the vast majority of Irish businesses (97%) consider homelessness to be a critical or significant problem that needs to be addressed.
The survey of over 100 businesses showed that 87% believe the business community has an important role to play in ending homelessness, while nine out of ten agree it is important that businesses actively support homelessness initiatives. Despite this only one in four businesses (25%) have previously engaged in initiatives to support people experiencing homelessness.
More than 660 (663) people are currently registered as homelessness in Cork City and County, including 221 children in the South West, Cork-Kerry region. Focus Ireland is now supporting 120 households, including 69 children, in long term tenancies across Cork and Kerry.
The charity is calling on businesses and business leaders to turn their concern into action and help turn the tide on homelessness by taking part in a Shine A Light Sleep Out, supported by Bord Gáis Energy, on World Homelessness Day, Friday October 10.
The annual fundraising initiative with organised business sleepout events at Cork City Goal and TU Grangegorman and Iveagh Gardens in Dublin, as well as community sleep outs at University College Cork and across Ireland, aims to raise €1.2 million in vital funds to support families and children experiencing homelessness, as demand on Focus Ireland’s services continues to rise with the worsening crisis.
To register or learn more, visit shinealight.focusireland.ie
