Sleep out on Spike to do your bit
By Geraldine Fitzgerald
Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are calling on business leaders, companies, employees and individuals across Cork to sleep out for one night this Friday to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness and raise much- needed funds for vital services across the city.
The most recent figure from the Department of Housing report that 413 people here in Cork simply do not have anywhere to call home.
The demand will grow further as the economic impact of the virus continues to devastate the 8,132 people currently homeless in Ireland, including 2,129 children and 930 families in emergency accommodation.
Spike Island is confirmed as a venue where business leaders will sleep out for the first time since 2019, and there are virtual options for people who want to join in by sleeping outdoors or in gardens where they live.
In line with Covid-19 guidelines, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy will stage in-person events with business leaders sleeping out in Cork, Limerick and Dublin.
In 2021, Focus Ireland’s Shine a Light Night campaign is aiming to raise €1.5 million, with Ireland’s business community helping to raise the vast majority of this.
Since the event began in 2012, Shine A Light Night has raised over €7.1m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland.
Ger Spillane of Focus Ireland said: “Shine a Light night is the most important fundraising initiative each year, and we’re fortunate to be strongly supported by the business community in Cork. We are truly grateful for their involvement and support to allow the continuation of vital services to homeless people across the country.”
“We’re relying on the support from businesses and members of the public to reach our fundraising goal of €1.5m so we can continue to support those experiencing homelessness in communities nationwide.”
To register to take part in a sleep out and for more info, visit Shine A Light 2021 at focusireland.ie or ring Dick White at Focus Ireland at 086-82223690 or email dick.whitefocusireland.ie.