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 10 October.
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.
The survey also showed that 16% of businesses have been directly or indirectly impacted by homelessness with respondents citing recruitment and retention challenges as key issues. 83% of business leaders surveyed said they would advise the Government to prioritise long-term social housing in the next Budget as a critical solution to ending the crisis.
The most recent Department of Housing report revealed that a record new total of more than 5,000 children (5,014) are now homeless and living in emergency accommodation across Ireland. 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 now calling on businesses to turn concern into action by taking part in a Shine A Light Sleep Out, supported by Bord Gáis Energy, on World Homelessness Day, Friday 10 October.
The annual fundraising initiative with organised business sleep out events at Cork City Goal and TU Grangegorman and Iveagh Gardens in Dublin, as well as a community sleep out in University College Cork in conjunction with UCC Student’s Union, and others 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.
Focus Ireland believes that everyone has a right to a place to call home and that no child should be without a home. Homelessness has a particularly devastating impact on children, affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Calling on businesses to sleep out for Shine A Light, Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland, said it’s time to end child homelessness: “The number of children in homelessness across Ireland has now risen above 5,000, and I am personally calling on the business community to join us in taking action. By sleeping out for Shine A Light this 10 October, together we will shine a light on Ireland’s children without a home. In Ireland in 2025, we must not allow another crisis affecting thousands of children, to go unnoticed, without action. I was encouraged to see that the Empathy research found that 87% of businesses recognise their crucial role in ending homelessness. This shared belief is our greatest strength, as we know we can’t solve this crisis alone.”
Focus Ireland LEAP Ambassador James Flanagan added: “At just three years old, I experienced homelessness with my mother. Those painful memories as a child stay with me, and it’s heartbreaking to see thousands of kids living through the same thing today. We are seeing the worst it has ever been, with thousands of children experiencing the trauma of homelessness. We broke that cycle because we received support, and I encourage you to give that same chance to others. By taking part in Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light, you are directly helping individuals, children, and families to rebuild their lives.”
The Shine A Light Sleep Out, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy, will offer CEOs, Managing Directors, and senior executives a chance to demonstrate real leadership by stepping out of their comfort zones for one night by sleeping out in two iconic locations – Iveagh Gardens and Cork City Gaol. Companies, local businesses, community groups and schools will also sleep out in communities across Ireland this 10 October.
Catherine Lonergan, Director of Customer and Commercial at Bord Gáis Energy, said:
“Homelessness is one of the most pressing social challenges of our time, and the business community has a unique role to play in driving change. By taking part in Shine A Light, leaders send a powerful message that business success and social responsibility go hand in hand. At Bord Gáis Energy, we’re proud to support this initiative once again and encourage businesses across Ireland to join us in standing up and sleeping out, for those who need our support most.”
Companies from all sectors across Ireland are asked to sign up to sleep out for Shine A Light ahead of 10 October. Global engineering and construction company Sisk are hosting their own company sleep out for the second year running.
Maura Toles, Sisk Group Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer commented: “Our team is deeply committed to Focus Ireland and their fight to end child homelessness. The statistics are staggering: nearly 5,000 children are without a home and from our work with Focus Ireland, we know homelessness hurts children the most. We want to be part of the solution. Building on the momentum from last year and the support we received from our supply chain partners, we’re hosting another Workplace Sleep Out in our Citywest premises. We’re issuing a challenge to our fellow businesses to join the nationwide sleep out to create a pathway to end child homelessness.”
Broadcaster and business person, Brendan Courtney, a long-time supporter of Shine A Light, added: “Homelessness is not just a statistic; its families, children, and individuals whose lives have been upended. No child should have to grow up without the security of a home. One night of discomfort for us can make a world of difference for thousands of families. That’s why I’m proud to join Shine A Light again this year and call on fellow leaders to do the same.”
How Businesses can take action to help end homelessness:
- Sign up to the Shine A Light Business Leader Sleep Out on Friday, 10 October, at Cork City Gaol or Iveagh Gardens/TU Dublin Grangegorman in Dublin and commit to fundraising for Focus Ireland.
- Invite colleagues and peers to join you and amplify your impact.
- Host a Workplace Sleep Out to educate and engage employees and make homelessness awareness part of your CSR initiatives.
To register or learn more, visit shinealight.focusireland.ie