Des Murphy - LEAP Ambassador
"Homelessness for me is within: I never had a home, I had a house, bricks and mortar, but I never had a home."
40 Faces of Focus Ireland
For our 40 year anniversary, Focus Ireland is featuring “40 faces” to tell our story. The series of videos and photos include interviews with: present and past staff from across the organisation; customers and LEAP Ambassadors who have accessed our services; plus volunteers, fundraisers and supporters who have made this vital work possible over the last 40 years.
Customers and Supporters
Keile Odanza - LEAP Ambassador
“I think I’m strong enough now to realise that I need to be happy for me and not for everyone else..."
James Flanagan - LEAP Ambassador
"She’s a better person, ten times better than she was back then, now and so am I.”
Clare McKenna - Public Figure & Supporter
"Everybody has a different story to tell and need different supports."
Gino Salveta- Fundraiser & Supporter
"I think there are still a lot of people who are skeptical about charities and question their motives..."
Katie Wallace - Fundraiser & Advocate
"I was scared that people would have a different perception of me."
Emmet Kirwin - Public Figure & Christmas Ambassador
"No young person should grow up without a home ..."
James - Customer (Coffee Shop)
"Through my homelessness and addiction, Focus Ireland has been there every step of the way..."
Jane Coyne - Loreto Abbey Dalkey Teacher & Fundraiser
"It's one of these amazing charities where we know the money is going to the right place."
Brendán O'Neill - Fundraiser & Supporter
"No matter how much you raise, everything helps..."
Support Staff
Pat Dennigan - CEO
"I have to view success in each of the households and small units that we see them in..."
Grainne Kennedy - Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy
"What I love most about Sr Stan is the story of how she started Focus Ireland and her dedication to women who were homeless..."
Conor Culkin - Communications Officer
“The type of work that we do every single day really fits my values.”
Siobhán Merriman-Breuer - Policy Officer
“It's a shameful aspect of society and it shouldn't be the case..."
Emma Webberly - Marketing Manager
“We are funding roughly half of the income of the organisation, so we work very very closely with our services.”
Noemi Milani - Brand Manager
"Housing has moved from being a human right, as it should be, into becoming a commodity."
Eoin Fitzsimons - Campaigns Officer
"We try to give people a safe and stable home. If you don't have that, how can you have any voice at all?"
Daniel Hoey - Research Manager
"I've always had an interest in social justice and fighting inequality in this country..."
Roughan MacNamara - Head of Communications
"We see the difference we're making in people's lives. We're ending homelessness everyday for families and individuals."
Service Staff
Paddy Markey - Chef (Coffee Shop)
"We help each other out and it’s like one big happy family downstairs (in the kitchen)."
Neil Forsyth - Head of Youth Services
"We need to address the root causes of homelessness... the inequalities that exist within Ireland."
Marie Farrell - Peer Worker (Coffee Shop)
"When I was at my lowest, she gave me as much support as she could to get my life back. I’ll be forever in her debt.”
Qusair Mahomed - Project Worker (Chead Cheim Aftercare)
"There are so many positive stories - it's only within the last year that we've been able to start moving people on..."
Lauren Egan - Graduate (CRFI Limerick)
“The values are my own, I wouldn’t be working here if I didn’t believe that everyone deserves a home."
Alicia Gayson-Lawrence - Housing Support Worker (DOSH)
"We get the great opportunity to support individuals, couples and families as they leave homelessness..."
Dee Burke - Child Support Worker (Family Centre)
"I don't know that we'll see the impact that's having on children for quite some time, not having a secure foundation of a home."
Adrian Quinn - Head of Housing Supports
"Homelessness is not inevitable, it is not something that we have to accept as part of society..."
Tatiana Mopiti Lutete - Project Worker (Greenhills Aftercare)
"I'm happier within myself knowing that from what I'm doing, it's a step closer to ending homelessness."