Depaul Trust Ireland – Annual Report 04/05
A place to call home
18 Nicholas Street Dublin 8 Tel: +353 (01) 453 7111 Fax: +353 (01) 453 7551 Email: info@depaultrust.net www.depaultrust.org
Design and photography by encoredesign
Introduction
Introduction
1
Chairman’s Report
12
CEO’S Report
2
Treasurer’s Report
13
Property Portfolio
3
Financial Statements
How High Are Our Walls?
4
The Two Johns
19
5-9
Special Thanks
20
Our Projects Volunteers
10
New Developments 2005
11
14-18
Dublin’s doorways have long been admired for their beauty. There is no doubt that the city has seen a renaissance in recent years. Belfast, too has seen its share of development. Property is certainly the modern “gold”. For those who have the Midas touch life is good. But what of people for whom those same doorways represent shelter from the elements? We are all entitled to a place called home. At Depaul Trust that aspiration is our mission statement, our reason for being.
“Everyone should have a place to call home and a stake in their community.” Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.1
CEO’s Report
Property Portfolio
For those of us lucky enough to be in a position to afford to buy a house, the selling points of a property that may some day become our home are varied and many. Is the location good? Is the price right? Are there good amenities near by? Are there enough bedrooms / reception rooms? What’s the garden like? The list is endless, but underlying it all, can I make it my home.
who are seeking a permanent home. Secondly to ensure that they have the necessary basic and life skills needed to sustain living in whatever home they find. Thirdly to make sure that while this search is going on (for some the search can take quite a time) we create a temporary home that provides them with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings.
Choosing a home can be the hardest thing to do, yet it is one of the most important decisions that we have to make in our life, be it purchasing or renting one. For the men and women who we see at Depaul trust buying is not and will never be an option. Yet they want, need and deserve the right to a place where they can call home, a place that is warm, secure, a place to put their posters up, and a place that is theirs. It is not just four walls and a roof, it is a place where they feel a sense of belonging, where they are accepted and are afforded the opportunity of being part of their community.
In the work carried out in Aungier Street, Back Lane, Clancy Nightshelter and Tus Nua we strive constantly to fulfil these challenges. It is not always easy and it can not be done without adequate resources and the full commitment to partnership working from all, be they the voluntary sector, government agencies and the wider community.
The Depaul Trust has been working in Ireland now since 2002 when we opened Clancy Barracks Nightshelter. In that short time it is estimated that we have seen over 600 different individuals through our doors. The fire in Back lane in 2003 limited us in painting a picture of the number of people that we saw that year. 2004 was the first year that we have been able to paint a fuller picture. Through the doors of our four projects we saw over 300 different individuals, for many of whom we were their only option of finding and making a home. We provided a home for men and women, old and young, from in and outside of Dublin and Ireland. The Depaul Trust is charged with three basic tasks. Firstly to work with the men and women
2.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Real men and women live in our hostels. They share the hopes and dreams of their fellow citizens. The Depaul Trust team work hard to make our hostels more that just 4 walls. Bricks and mortar don’t make a home but respect, dignity and a genuine concern for our residents does that. Some of our hostels like Back Lane have endured for 100 years and still provide a warm refuge, even a nice garden in the heart of Dublin’s busy city centre. The new purpose built Stella Maris hostel in Belfast offers residents bright pleasant surroundings, the kind of place where you really want to make a fresh start. The care and support of our staff at Aungier St. cannot hide the dismal building that is Dublin’s first wet shelter. Top of our wish list is a new building for our residents. For our young residents at Clancy nightshelter too we know that we could do so much more with better space to engage with 17 young people whose complex needs require space, time and lots of hope.
2004 has been an exiting year and I am glad to report that we continue to improve and develop our services. 2004 saw work start on the development of services outside of Dublin, the fruits of which will be covered more in the report for 2005. In brief we opened two new projects in Belfast, Drive Ahead Belfast and Stella Maris and a fifth project in Ballymun, Dublin. I hope you enjoy your read and that you continue to support our work.
Pat Doherty
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.3
How High Are Our Walls?
Our Projects
We aim, at Depaul Trust, to keep our walls as low as possible. Our low threshold, harm reduction approach is a pragmatic response to a social reality. We seek to enable our residents find what they can do, rather than what they must do.
In 2004 Depaul Trust Ireland worked with 374 homeless people in our four Dublin projects.
Breakdown of Residents per Project for 2004 250
218
200 150 98
100 50
42 16
0 Aungier Street (22 beds)
Backlane Hostel (75 beds)
Clancy Nightseller (17 beds)
TĂşs Nua (6 beds)
Our records show that the majority of the people we help are Dublin, born and bred. This is their backyard.
Working as we do with the most marginalised people in our society we are aware that for many there seems no reason to plan for the future, nothing worth striving towards. We hope that with the opportunity to escape from the streets, to enjoy good food and rest and with our support, our residents can begin the slow journey back to real living.
4.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Nimbyism has become a very unwelcome feature of the neighbourhood landscape. Like many other charities we have had a very uncertain welcome in some areas. We acknowledge with gratitude those neighbours who have been true friends to our residents. It is an important part of our work to respect our neighbours and work with them for the good of all the community.
Outside Dublin - 16%
Origins across all Dublin Projects
Northern Ireland - 4% UK - 7% Elsewhere - 1% Dublin - 72%
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.5
Our Projects
continued
Aungier Street Hostel
Backlane Hostel
The Aungier Street hostel is home to 23 street drinkers. For the men and women who live at the shelter this offers respite from the elements and a chance to be cared for.
Built in 1915 by the Society of St Vincent DePaul as a night shelter to accommodate 200 homeless men, the Back Lane Hostel has gone through a number of changes. Now, in a partnership with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul we deliver a Direct Access Emergency Accommodation service on a 24/7 basis, providing security and support to residents. Gone are the days when men had to take to the streets at the break of dawn. The hostel caters for 74 men over the age of 26, with varying needs. Each man has his own room and three nutritious meals daily. Each resident is assigned a Keyworker, who will work with their client to prepare a care plan based on personal needs. We have two levels of support, one is specifically for older, less able resident, some over 70 years of age, whose needs are long term. For younger residents we offer access to education, employment training, addiction counselling, medical attention, life skills courses etc. Our aim is to enable people to move on into appropriate accommodation and to prepare them for independent living. We seek to make community life in the Backlane Hostel as varied as possible. Thanks to our volunteers we can offer Bingo, Pool, music nights, art classes, meditation, a gardening group, to name but a few. Without the Society of St Vincent Depaul Volunteers, the European Volunteers and Depaul trust Volunteers these activities would not take place. A Thank you must also go out to the Mountjoy Prison Gardening Group, who during the early part of this year did a great job in sorting out the pond and who made the planters at the front of the building.
A dedicated team of project workers engage with the residents through a programme of careplanning. A nutritious diet and good healthcare are an important part of the slow journey back to health. For some, that journey begins with Aungier Street and there residents are encouraged to address the problems which led to homelessness. The harm reduction model used at the project enables those who are excluded from other shelters to seek help without having to “dry out” alone and abandoned on street corners. For others, even low threshold comes too late and while staff and residents mourn the loss of loved ones it is often a comfort to families to know that final days were spent among those who care. A striking fact among the residents of the Aungier street hostel is the number who have slept rough. A total of 54 residents (84.4%) have had to sleep rough and the vast majority of those (75% of the total) had to sleep rough for more than one month.
Residents
%
Slept Rough
54
84.4
Hasn’t Slept Rough
10
15.6
More Than 1 Month
48
75.0
1 Month or Less
5
7.8
Residents Who Slept Rough 50
48
40
30
20
10 10 5 0 More Than One Month
6.
Depaul Trust Ireland
One Month Hasn’t or Less Slept Rough
Some facts While the average stay per person in the Backlane hostel is 1.3 years (383 days) a number of residents have stayed for significantly longer periods. Each of the 45 men who stayed for longer than one year spent an average of 5.4 years in the hostel. Seven men have been resident in the hostel for more than 10 years and combined they spent 49835 nights in Backlane hostel. This amounts to a total of nearly 137 years or almost 20 years each on average. Shortage of adequate move-on facilities mean that people are spending too long in hostel accommodation. Depaul Trust aims to prepare people for independent living and continues to advocate on their behalf to obtain the places necessary for people to move on to.
Time Spent in Backlane 7 13
5 - 10
25
10 - 33
2-5
45
1-2
50
0.5 - 1
213
0 - 0.5
Number of Residents
Number of Years
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.7
Our Projects
continued
Clancy Night Shelter At Clancy Night Shelter Depaul Trust helps young homeless people many of whom are the victims of the drug problem, endemic in many parts of the city. Clancy provides a warm meal, a place to sleep and respite from the pavements. Many of the young people at the shelter have been excluded from other services because of their drugs problem or their challenging behaviour. Depaul Trust offers shelter to these young people and a chance to reintegrate in their communities. It is about giving young people a second start in life. Many of the young people who come to Clancy have been denied the opportunity to live in a safe and secure environment. A young person’s right to these things should not depend on where they were born or who their parents were. The key issue for these marginalised young people is that for them there is no reason not to take drugs, no escape route or achievable alternative. We seek to address the avoidable reasons for failure rather than punishing those who have “failed”. By far the greatest number of the residents of Clancy Night shelter come from Dublin (77%) with only a small proportion (6%) from other counties, Northern Ireland (2%) and outside Ireland, namely the England (4%). The majority of our Dublin residents are from the Dublin City
8.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Tús Nua area (67%) and a small number of poor areas in the suburbs in south county Dublin, such as Tallaght and Clondalkin (33%).
Origin by Postcode 15 13
12 11 10
9 7
6
Women leaving prison in Ireland face many difficulties. The women who come to Tús Nua are seeking an opportunity to make a fresh start. The lack of hope for the future combined with the very real difficulties of finding a house and job can be too much to tackle alone. Staff at Tús Nua work with residents in a holistic manner to address the issues which led to prison and to provide the support needed for the women to put their lives back on track. For many women an additional worry is their concern about families. The Society of St Vincent De Paul set up Tús Nua with support from the probation services because it is clear that without support re-offending becomes more likely. The staff and volunteers of Depaul Trust offer one-to-one sessions with residents as well as programmes such as citizenship and budgeting to enable women to successfully reintegrate in their community. Family mediation is supported through children’s visits, contact with parents and by working closely with other services.
Imprisonment frequently leads to loss of custody of children and homelessness. Once released, being out of home, in its turn, means inability to regain custody of children. Depaul Trust works to mend the relationships damaged by prison and to bring families together.
Reasons for Homelessness 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
3 2
2
0 D1
D7
D8
D9
D10 D11 D18 D22 D24
When asked about the reason for their homelessness, residents of Tús Nua are divided evenly between being sent to prison and a family break up. These two factors are often interrelated. Many families are broken apart when loved ones, especially mothers, are sent to prison. Over 80% of the women at Tús Nua were in the family home before being sent to prison.
Family Break-up
Left Home
Accommodation Prior to Prison/Homelessness 20
3
7
4
Prison
4
3
7
19
15 10 5
2
2
1
Care
Other
0 Home
Friends
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.9
Volunteers
New Developments 2005
Ballymun In Ballymun Depaul Trust is developing an Alcohol Case Management Team. The project will provide support for those people with alcohol related problems. It will assess the needs of people and the needs of their families at home as well as on the streets. The aim of the service is to link people into those agencies which can provide for their health social and housing needs. Working within a harm reduction framework and through a personalised programme of care plans clients will be encouraged to access services and will be assisted through mediation where there is a threat of family or neighbourhood breakdown.
Drive Ahead Belfast It has been a very fruitful year for volunteers in 2004/5. The Depaul Trust continues to be a host organisation for the European Voluntary Service, a European YOUTH funded programme allowing young adults to volunteers at our projects for between 6 and 12 months. We hosted 11 new volunteers between 2004 and 2005 who were instrumental in organising so many activities and outings for our residents. Of particular note was an art exhibition, hosted by the Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham, of paintings by residents of Back Lane hostel, an initiative instigated by Kari Moerkoere-yde, a big thank you to her.
Our part time volunteer programme continues to grow and this year, volunteers have organised art workshops, cinema workshops, music nights, photography projects, book clubs and sports activities to name but a few things. Volunteers continue to provide and engender community spirit in all of our projects. We thank everyone who has worked alongside us in 2004/2005. Your commitment and enthusiasm brings so much to the work that we are able to do and we thank you most sincerely.
Drive Ahead Belfast is a project for 17 - 25 year olds who are currently unemployed. It is for both male and females and is open to people from both sides of community. The project offers help in preparing for and taking tests for driving and forklift licences as well as assisting the participants to work on their own self development. This is achieved by improving basic life skills as well as preparing for employability through workshops on interview and interpersonal presentation etc. The course has proven highly successful with the first group to complete the programme.
Stella Maris The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, BIH Housing Association and the Depaul Trust have worked in partnership to develop a Hostel for Street Drinkers – both men and women that will provide appropriate accommodation to meet housing and social needs in a well managed and supportive environment. During this year renovations were completed and residents moved into their bright airy beautifully renovated home.
Noel Clear Award One of our first trustees and vice chair was a very committed member of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Noel Clear dedicated his considerable talents to ensure that those on the margins were not forgotten in our society. in his memory we present the Noel Clear award to the most outstanding part time volunteer in our organisation. We value the enormous effort of all our volunteers and this award reminds how it is the huge efforts made by individuals that allow our work to take place.
10.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.11
Chairman’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
I would like to welcome you to Depaul Trust’s annual report, our third. As always, our core message, underpinning all our work, is that everyone deserves a place to call home and that all homeless and disadvantaged people should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Increased service fees and improved fund raising contributed to an increase in incoming resources to c3.9 million. This increase in service fees was fully utilised to meet additional staff costs arising from both an increase in employees and annual pay awards. Our staff are key to all our services and we continue to rely on their enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment to maintain and deliver the high standard of service we aspire to.
During this year we have strengthened our partnership with the Vincentian Fathers, the Daughters of Charity and the society of St Vincent de Paul. Our shared commitment to, and solidarity with, those on the margins unites us in the spirit of Vincent. We continue to enjoy the support of the Homeless Agency, the Departments of Environment, Health and Justice. We acknowledge all those who support our work in so many ways. It is only with this backing that we can continue to provide the quality services that will improve the ‘lot’ of those less fortunate than ourselves. When we launched our second annual report in December last year I said that it was likely that over the months to come we would expand our services to other parts of Ireland. It gives me considerable pleasure to advise that we have now two successful projects operating in Belfast. Stella Maris provides a home for those most in need while Drive Ahead offers a chance at a real future for young people on both sides of the sectarian divide. We pride ourselves in Depaul Trust that our care of residents is of the highest quality but it is equally important that the physical surroundings ie the buildings should also be secure and welcoming. For many of our clients our projects are their homes. It is therefore imperative that the standards and facilities provided should be of the highest Quality. Inadequate accommodation is something we should not accept. Our residents deserve better. Funding and fundraising will always be crucial to us. Three year funding as opposed to the current system of annual funding would be a huge step forward and of considerable benefit to our clients. It would enable providers of services like Depaul Trust to forward plan services safe in the knowledge that underlying funding is secure.
We had targeted 2004 as a year of consolidation, effective cost control and investment in our central services. We see our central service function as both an integral part and a cost effective method of delivering our service offering. In this regard it is disappointing that the costs are not fully recovered from our funders and for the second year in succession we have had rely on donations from our founders and key sponsors to cover all our central service costs. In this regard a sincere thanks to the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul, the Vincentian Fathers and the Daughters of Charity for their continued support. A change in manner of payment for our services has lead to an increase in working capital investment. During the year 2004 and particularly in 2005 we have had to rely heavily on our reserves to fund our day to day operations. We continue to work with our funders throughout 2005 to achieve a more timely payment cycle for services and look forward to reporting an improvement in this area in the coming year. In looking forward to 2005 we are examining a number of projects in both the Dublin region and in Northern Ireland. We intend to continue our efforts in establishing full funding for all our projects on a standalone basis and extending our sponsor network.
One of the nice aspects of writing my annual report is the opportunity which it affords me to publicly applaud and thank our management team and all of our staff for the truly wonderful job which they do. The demands made on them are often excessive and frequently stressful. Irrespective of this I am continually amazed at their professionalism and even more importantly their compassion and understanding which they show on a continuous basis to those most in need of our help. I thank them all. Finally, I would like to welcome Herbie Graham who, in November 2005, replaced me as Chairman. Herbie has been our Treasurer for the past 3 years and I am confident that he will be a huge success in his new role, enriching the work of Depaul Trust through his leadership. I am sure that you join with me in wishing him well.
Paddy Murray
12.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Herbert Graham Treasurer
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.13
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31st December 2004
Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2004
Note Incoming resources
1
Resources Expended Direct charitable expenditure Total Resources Expended Net incoming resources Accumulated funds at beginning of year Accumulated funds at end of year
2
Unrestricted funds g
Restricted funds g
2004 g
2003 h
3,935,798
-
3,935,798
3,162,068
Fixed assets Tangible assets
3,837,936 3,837,936
-
3,837,936 3,837,936
3,031,675 3,031,675
97,862
-
97,862
130,393
198,042
295,904
-
-
198,042
295,904
Note of historical cost deficits and surpluses for the year ended 31st December 2004
2004 g
2003 h
4
29,085
31,350
Current assets Debtors : due within one year Cash & bank balances
5 6
305,932 164,179 470,111
142,106 382,207 524,313
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
7
203,292
357,621
Net current assets
266,819
166,692
Total net assets
295,904
198,042
295,904
198,042
295,904
198,042
Note
67,649
198,042
Capital and reserves Revenue reserves
8
Historical cost deficits and surpluses are the only such deficits and surpluses recognised by the company.
Approved on behalf of the board,
Laurence J. Tuomey Secretary 20 October 05
14.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Approved on behalf of the board,
Herbert C. Graham Treasurer
Laurence J. Tuomey Secretary
Herbert C. Graham Treasurer
20 October 05
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.15
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 1
Incoming resources
Incoming resources is comprised of: Homeless Agency/Health Board Donation and Fundraising income Consultancy Other
By donator: Homeless Agency Ireland Society of Saint Vincent DePaul South Western Area Healthboard Other
Note 2
Net incoming resources
Incoming resources Staff Costs Depreciation Other operating charges Net incoming resources Net incoming resources for the year has been arrived at after charging: Staff Costs - wages and salaries - social welfare costs - employer pension contribution
Auditors' remuneration Note 3
16.
2004 g
2003 h
1,531,206 107,639 2,296,953 3,935,798
1,895,012 40,222 40,215 1,186,619 3,162,068
1,531,206 1,419,899 463,540 521,153 3,935,798
1,895,012 1,004,219 262,837 3,162,068
2004 g
2003 h
3,935,798 (2,861,116) (18,381) (958,439) 97,862
3,162,068 (2,185,864) (12,331) (833,481) 130,392
Tangible fixed assets
Office Equipment g
Total g
Cost At beginning of year Additions in year At end of year
45,233 16,116 61,349
45,233 16,116 61,349
Accumulated Depreciation At beginning of year Charge for year At end of year
13,883 18,381 32,264
13,883 18,381 32,264
Net book value At 31st December 2004
29,085
29,085
At 31st December 2003
31,350
31,350
The estimated useful lives of fixed assets by reference to which depreciation is calculated on, are as follows: Office equipment
Note 5
Debtors
Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income 2,550,678 262,876 47,562 2,861,116
1,961,733 203,782 20,349 2,185,864
6,655
6,655
Taxation The charitable status of Depaul Trust Ireland has been approved by the Revenue Commissioners.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Note 4
3 years
2004 g
2003 h
262,596 43,336 305,932
129,096 13,010 142,106
All amounts included above fall due within one year.
Note 6
Cash and bank balances
2004 g
2003 h
Cash and bank balances
164,179
382,207
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.17
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 7
Creditors : amounts falling due within one year
2004 g
2003 h
53,619 30,566 119,107 203,292
133,799 20,171 51,393 152,258 357,621
Reconciliation of movements in reserves
2004 g
2003 h
Net incoming resources for the year Accumulated funds at beginning of year Accumulated funds at end of year
97,862 198,042 295,904
130,393 67,649 198,042
Trade creditors Accruals Provision for underspending PAYE & Social Welfare
Note 8
continued
Note 9
Employees The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was 70, (2003-66).
Note 10
Pension
Employer pension contribution
2004 g
2003 h
47,562
20,349
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Note 11
Note 12
18.
Related Party Transactions The company received consultancy services of c10,762 during the year from DePaul Trust Limited. This amount is included in creditors at year end. We received donations of c1,419,899 from the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul during the financial year. DePaul Trust Ireland Limited was formed as a joint initative between DePaul Trust Limited, Daughters of Charity, The Vincentian Fathers, and the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul in Ireland to undertake and manage projects for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Depaul Trust Ireland is affiliated to DePaul Foundation.
The Two Johns
John spent the first ten years of his life in a Dublin orphanage. At the age of ten he was sent to an ‘Industrial School’ where he was to spend the next six years of his young life engaging in activities like shoe making and woodwork. John explained that the activities were only for the good of the school, not for the good of the boys and that they were only to make money for the school. John said the school was like a prison, with huge walls and he never saw the outside world. The kids in there were either orphans like him or they had been put in there as punishment, because they had stolen something. I asked John if there were any good times in the industrial school but he told me, “No, not really. It was all sadness”. John told me again that I should ask other men in the hostel because he “…never did the usual things of swinging around lampposts and playing the game with numbers on the pavement”. I took John’s advice and decided to also talk with the other John about his memories. Johnny told me that when he was young pubs in Dublin were only open from 7pm until 10pm and no women were allowed. Johnny recalls lively sing-songs and being able to have a great time on just ten quid. Johnny told me there used to be dances in Dublin with rock and roll bands. In particular he remembers the Adelaide Road Dance Hall which was “a great place for meeting girls”. Johnny remembers a time when there were no drugs in Dublin and everyone just left their doors open when they went out. There were also very few homeless people in those days. Johnny’s first payment on ‘the labour’ was eighteen shillings a week. He used to read a lovely paper called ‘The Evening Mail’ and sometimes went to the army barracks for a cheap pint. Johnny grew up on Meath Street and some of the old shopkeepers there still know him and will sometimes give him money or a few cigarettes. The new, young ones don’t though. When Johnny was a kid he used to sometimes get dinner at ‘The Little Flower’ which he says still does good dinners today. Johnny also remembers the ‘Balbriggan Sunshine Home’ where his family went once a year for a holiday. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul ran the holiday home and Johnny had the best holidays of his life there, with lovely meals and lemonade. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul also used to give Johnny’s family bags of coal in winter. Once a year the government would give Johnny a lovely new pair of boots and this was called the ‘government boot fund’. Johnny used to collect jam jars and bottles and got pennies for them. He used to love buying fizz drinks and one penny lucky bags of sweets. I asked Johnny has Dublin changed much since he was young and he told me it has. Johnny said he was held in prison for six hours a couple of years ago for being drunk and he wasn’t given anything to drink, not even a glass of water. When Johnny tries to go to pubs these days he is not served and the pub staff tell him he is drunk even when he has just got out of bed and has had nothing to drink. Johnny remembers a time when Dublin was a friendlier place.
Approval of financial statements The financial statements were approved by the board of directors at a meeting held on.
Depaul Trust Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 04/05
.19
Special Thanks
It is our role to ensure that your concern is turned into positive action to assist people in need. We promise to: - Use wisely the money you entrust to us - Keep you informed of our work - Be open to any new ideas or comments We would like to acknowledge those who have supported us.
20.
Depaul Trust Ireland