Coming Together to end Homelessness

The Development of a Rehabilitation Project in St. Francis Farm, Tullow.
The Franciscan Order, Respond! Housing Association, Merchants Quay Ireland and Carlow County Council join forces to expand services for homeless persons.

Construction work begins today, May 21st 2008, in Tullow, Co. Carlow, on the development of a Centre for homeless persons in the second phase of their rehabilitation from drug addiction. The project is a joint initiative between Ireland’s largest housing association, Respond!, Merchants Quay Ireland, the Franciscan Order and Carlow County Council and will increase the capacity of the existing centre to meet the needs of those experiencing problems with drug or alcohol and are also homeless.

At the turning of the first sod Fr. Caoimhin O’Laoide, ofm, Provincial of the Irish Franciscans, who made the land in Tullow available for this project said: “It is fully in keeping with the Mission of the Irish Franciscans to facilitate the development of this Rehabilitation Centre for the needs of homeless persons in society. We are appreciative of the work of Respond! and Merchants Quay Ireland in taking on this project and we wish them every success in their work here.”

The redevelopment of the centre is being funded under a social housing mortgage scheme through Carlow County Council and will cost an estimated €3.5 million. When completed in 2009, it will be a 28-bed unit development and will offer one to one counselling, group therapy, educational and personal development programmes, as well as work experience in farming and general care. The project will increase the capacity of the existing centre in order to meet the large waiting lists of those undergoing rehabilitation from drug addiction.

Fr. Pat Cogan, ofm, Chief Executive Officer, Respond!, said: “We are very grateful to the Franciscan Order for this land, one of several generous acquisitions from the Franciscans from which Respond! has benefited over the last several years. We are also delighted to be working with Merchants Quay Ireland, with the progressive assistance of Carlow County Council, on this residential programme in Tullow, Co Carlow, which is aimed at providing training in a rural setting to former drug users. When this phase of the project is completed in 2009, the aim is to almost treble the capacity of the centre which currently caters for some 30 persons per annum.”

Merchants Quay Ireland began providing therapeutic community & training services for drug users in the Carlow town in 1996. The current programme provides a unique blend of individual and group development, education and practical skills training in a rural farm setting. Vocational and educational training elements are central to the programme. Residents are offered skills in animal care, farming and market gardening, catering and food preparation skills, social skills, personal development and computer skills.

Tony Geoghegan, Chief Executive Officer of Merchants Quay Ireland said: “The links between problem drug use and homelessness are well established with a quarter to a third of people who are homeless also experiencing problems with either drugs or alcohol. This can make responding their needs a bit more difficult as it is essential to tackle both their drug use and their housing needs. We are therefore delighted to be able to expand the services we currently offer in the South East so we can address this dual issue. Evidence shows that drug treatment works and our experiences indicates that it is even more successful when there is a focus on the other areas of a persons life including housing, health, education and training.”