The homeless families project provides offers temporary accommodation to homeless families (i.e. ranging from expectant mother through to mother, father and children) the project has self contained units and can accommodate families of varying sizes.

The displacement of families due to any number of factors from inappropriate living arrangements, overcrowding and paramilitary intimidation and expulsions remains a significant problem in Northern Ireland. In addition, many family relationships break down resulting in the need for temporary accommodation. It is important that families are kept together and provided with high levels of support during any period of transition.

Families are appointed a key worker to ensure they receive the appropriate support. A support plan (life skills, budgeting, parenting skills and health support) is developed between the resident and worker. The project provides the time and space during which families can address the issues which led to their housing crisis. The project supports families to gain practical skills which enable them to adapt to life after they have left the project.

PROJECT AIMS
" To provide high quality support to homeless families
" To support homeless families to secure their own long term accommodation
" To ensure success in independent living
" To enable families to become reintegrated into the community and society as a whole.
The host project is situated in Belfast, the main city of Northern Ireland. Belfast is a small city with a vibrant social and cultural life. The cost of living is substantially cheaper than in Britain or the Republic of Ireland but the commercial and social opportunities are on a par with both.

Belfast is served by two airports, and is linked to most major destinations in Europe and the US. There is also a very cheap coach service that connects the city centre to Dublin airport for flights to other destinations. Belfast is also ideal to use as a base for touring other parts of Northern Ireland, which enjoys excellent road and rail links to many scenic destinations, such as the Giants Causeway, the city of Derry, Mourne Mountains, Fermanagh lakes and many more.

The city hosts a number of significant arts festivals over the year and also plays host to a diverse array of bars, nightclubs, theatres, venues, restaurants and cinemas. Recent years have witnessed an increase in both tourist numbers and in the development of new ethnic communities.

Political and factional violence was a part of life in Belfast for thirty years from the late 1960s.
Although the city continues to experience tensions between its two communities (and, indeed, tensions within different factions of both communities), it has been engaged on a peace process since the mid-1990s, and political strife does not generally affect outsiders to the area. The city and its inhabitants are friendly to newcomers and the Depaul Trust NI undertakes to place volunteers in accommodation away from potential sectarian flashpoints.

The Depaul Trust have been working within the YOUTH Programme for a number of years. The Depaul Trust Ireland currently host 7 EVS volunteers in each of our services in Dublin City. We host two volunteers at our Stella Maris Hostel in Belfast. Volunteers at this project currently run activities in arts and crafts, music and special film and quiz nights. The volunteers at this project also organise outings for the residents and so far have taken them (accompanied by staff) to the zoo, to museums, 10 pin bowling etc. We have been involved in the programme since we set up in Ireland in 2002. The Depaul Trust also has a dedicated volunteer co-ordinator who manages a part time volunteering programme as well.

Volunteers who are placed with us also enjoy an intercultural experience. Volunteers are generally on induction for the first two weeks of the project. During this time they participate in a tour of the host city with the volunteer mentor of the project. They are also given the opportunity to visit sites of historical and cultural significance with the residents of the project they are working in.

Volunteers are housed in rented accommodation. They will probably share a flat or house with shared, kitchen, living room and bathroom. They will have their own bedrooms. All utensils, sheets, towels etc will be provided by the Depaul Trust. The Depaul Trust will pay all rent and bills for this house. Volunteers will be required to maintain cleanliness in the house and the house from time to time will be subject to agreed house checks by the volunteer co-ordinator.
The host project is situated in Belfast, the main city of Northern Ireland. Belfast is a small city with a vibrant social and cultural life. The cost of living is substantially cheaper than in Britain or the Republic of Ireland but the commercial and social opportunities are on a par with both.

Belfast is served by two airports, and is linked to most major destinations in Europe and the US. There is also a very cheap coach service that connects the city centre to Dublin airport for flights to other destinations. Belfast is also ideal to use as a base for touring other parts of Northern Ireland, which enjoys excellent road and rail links to many scenic destinations, such as the Giants Causeway, the city of Derry, Mourne Mountains, Fermanagh lakes and many more.

The city hosts a number of significant arts festivals over the year and also plays host to a diverse array of bars, nightclubs, theatres, venues, restaurants and cinemas. Recent years have witnessed an increase in both tourist numbers and in the development of new ethnic communities.

Political and factional violence was a part of life in Belfast for thirty years from the late 1960s.
Although the city continues to experience tensions between its two communities (and, indeed, tensions within different factions of both communities), it has been engaged on a peace process since the mid-1990s, and political strife does not generally affect outsiders to the area. The city and its inhabitants are friendly to newcomers and the Depaul Trust NI undertakes to place volunteers in accommodation away from potential sectarian flashpoints.

The Depaul Trust have been working within the YOUTH Programme for a number of years. The Depaul Trust Ireland currently host 7 EVS volunteers in each of our services in Dublin City. We host two volunteers at our Stella Maris Hostel in Belfast. Volunteers at this project currently run activities in arts and crafts, music and special film and quiz nights. The volunteers at this project also organise outings for the residents and so far have taken them (accompanied by staff) to the zoo, to museums, 10 pin bowling etc. We have been involved in the programme since we set up in Ireland in 2002. The Depaul Trust also has a dedicated volunteer co-ordinator who manages a part time volunteering programme as well.

Volunteers who are placed with us also enjoy an intercultural experience. Volunteers are generally on induction for the first two weeks of the project. During this time they participate in a tour of the host city with the volunteer mentor of the project. They are also given the opportunity to visit sites of historical and cultural significance with the residents of the project they are working in.

Volunteers are housed in rented accommodation. They will probably share a flat or house with shared, kitchen, living room and bathroom. They will have their own bedrooms. All utensils, sheets, towels etc will be provided by the Depaul Trust. The Depaul Trust will pay all rent and bills for this house. Volunteers will be required to maintain cleanliness in the house and the house from time to time will be subject to agreed house checks by the volunteer co-ordinator.

We will review the volunteers needs and provide additional training on top of the standard EVS Volunteer induction and training. Areas requiring extra support would be highlighted with a time bound support plan drawn up to be mutually monitored and reviewed by the volunteer, a project staff member and the Volunteer Co-ordinator.

The volunteer's induction will cover all Depaul Trust Policies (for example) Health & Safety, Child Protection and Prevention of Violence Policy. Our hostels are fitted with panic buttons, monitored by CCTV and staff are always nearby to assist. Volunteers are encouraged to seek assistance from a staff member if they are faced with challenging situations and not to tackle them alone (we also have a Lone Working Policy). Our yearly training programme covers Fire Safety, Manual Handling and First Aid training. Volunteers will have access to this training.
Before starting each shift, volunteers are encouraged to read the project log book to be updated on any incidents that may have occurred. They also play a role in team meetings and debriefing sessions.
Regular Health & Safety and Risk Assessments are made of all Depaul Trust projects including the Volunteer House.
Support is provided by the Volunteer Co-ordinator and an allocated mentor on site. There is monthly supervision but volunteers are also encouraged seek support when required.
Because of the challenging environment that the volunteers will be working in, we are unable to accept volunteers under the age of 18 years.

Our projects are aimed at socially excluded people and in particular youth, the homeless, drug users, offenders, care leavers or those at risk within their local communities. We have been hosting EVS volunteers in our projects in the Republic of Ireland since 2002. We have hosted full-time EVS volunteers in Northern Ireland since 2005 in our Stella Maris hostel. We have a strong ethos of volunteering and initally the volunteer programme was established to enable local individuals to become involved with the work of the organisation. The programme aims to develop the skills of the volunteers whilst simultaneously enabling Depaul Trust to offer a more multifaceted approach to our service.
By adding a European dimension to the volunteer programme we feel that our residents and working practice has greatly benefited from new cultural experiences. The EVS programme also offers the opportunity for young people using Depaul Trust services to volunteer abroad. The EVS programme has enabled 3 of our volunteers, who had previously used our services, to experience working and living in Austria. Currently we host 10 EVS volunteers within our Dublin and Belfast services.

Depaul Trust in Ireland was set up in Dublin in 2002 and Belfast in 2005. The charity is a joint initiative of Depaul Trust UK, the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland and other members of the Vincentian Family. With the central office based in Dublin, the charity has developed a number of projects working with socially excluded people and in particular youth, the homeless, drug users, offenders, care leavers or those at risk within their local communities.
It is our vision that everyone has a place to call home and a stake in their community. Our mission is to offer homeless and disadvantaged people the opportunity to fulfil their potential and move towards an independent and positive future.

Depaul Trust in Northern Ireland. In Belfast we currently operate:

" Drive Ahead - An education and training project targeting disadvantaged young people in North Belfast.
" Stella Maris Hostel - A project targeting long term street drinkers in the Belfast area.
" Mater Dei Hostel - A project for homeless families including children.

September 2007
" Cloverhill Hostel - A project for homeless families including children.

Depaul Trust in the Republic of Ireland. In the Dublin region we currently operate:

" Aungier St: An emergency accommodation project for long term street drinkers
" Clancy Nightshelter: A low threshold nightshelter for 18-35 year old with drug use issues.
" Back Lane Hostel: Emergency accommodation for 75 homeless men
" Tus Nua: A transitional housing project for women leaving prison and identified as at risk of becoming homeless.
" Bluebell: Housing for ex-residents of Aungier Street Hostel who have specialist needs.
" Ballymun Case Management Team: outreach support in the community.
" Community Medical Services.
" Community Befriending Programme: support for re-housed ex-residents.

We feel that EVS brings an wider cultural dimension to our projects benefiting both our client users, staff, the local community and the volunteers themselves. Whilst we have full time staff working in our projects focusing on the basic service provision the volunteers can concentrate solely on additional activities which will be of great benefit to the residents.