Homeless charity’s call to action to the people of Meath

A call to action to the people of Meath to help out in the sleepout and flag day being organised by Drogheda Homeless Aid this month.

While the charity was established in the 1980s by Sr Cait Fitzgerald of the Daughters of Charity who was once an instructor at St Martha’s Domestic College in Navan, and has its hostel in Drogheda, the organisation serves the homeless in a wide area of this region including Meath which does not have a hostel. The organisation has a 35-bed hostel in Drogheda and has nine “transition houses” (where people can find shelter before moving on to more permanent accommodation). Of the nine houses, six are in Meath (three near Duleek and three in Navan).

DHA has full-time employees along with CE workers but its eight-member board comprises volunteers. In the past year the board voted unanimously to change the name of the organisation to Louth Meath Homeless Services, reflecting its reach across the region. It is supported by Meath County Council, Louth County Council and the HSE but also relies heavily on fundraising activity. This activity was very heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and last Christmas was unable to hold its annual fundraising “sleepout” campaign.

Following structural reorganisation, DHA now has a new board and is ramping up its fundraising activities starting with The Big Sleepout 2025 which takes place on Friday 23rd May. Paul Murphy, chairperson of DHA said that this inspiring community event is an opportunity to make a tangible difference for those affected by homelessness. He said that the organisation was calling on individuals, schools, businesses, community groups to come together in solidarity.

The sleepout will be held at St Peter’s Church, West Street Drogheda, on Friday 25th May with a flag day following on Saturday. The event will be promoted across local newspapers, radio, social media and press outlets, ensuring wide visibility for those who support the cause.

In addition to the main sleepout, participants who can’t attend in person are encouraged to host their own sleepouts at local schools, sports fields or community centres.

Gemma, the Campaigns and Fundraising Coordinator for DHA said that the event is more than just a fundraiser but also a chance to actively engage with the issues surrounding homelessness and to show compassion for those in need.

Since 1982 Drogheda Homeless Aid has been a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness. It provides a wide range of services – hundreds are accommodated each year; people are helped with resettlement by exiting homelessness to independent living, prevention of homelessness and assisting those with mental health challenges. in foresight, Drogheda Homeless Aid aim to increase services across Meath and Louth.

The community is asked to contact fundraising@dha.ie for offers to participate in the sleepout, organise fundraising activity, or donate.