A #CareDay24 message from EPIC CEO, Marissa Ryan 💜

Join the celebrations today !

#CareAware

In case you missed it, on the eve of the Bank Holiday, the latest homelessness figures were published:
📈1,510 homeless people aged 18-24, up 20% on last year's figure. These concerning figures highlight the lack of progress made.
📰Read our reaction here: youth.ie/articles/youth…

EPIC is thrilled! This grant will support a participative research project on experiences of state care amongst children + young people who have sought international protection in 🇮🇪

This will be our 2nd voices-led research project this year!

Check out 🗣️epiconline.ie/headphones-odd…

Having partnered with CLM to provide free legal advice clinics for children in care + young care leavers, it is fantastic to see further investment in this area + in CLM. Wonderful to know the team will be busy upholding the legal rights of even more children + young people!

Our Policy Officer Adam Spollen will speak Clúid Housing Simon Brooke Lecture tonight.
He'll discuss youth homelessness in Ireland, our dedicated youth services & the work of Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness & also the national Youth Homelessness Strategy for which Focus Ireland campaigned.

Watch Lisa O’Brien, South-East Services Manager in Focus Ireland as she joins a panel of experts to mark #EndChildPovertyWeek

youtube.com/watch?v=fKzSae…

🧵If we are to to achieve the objectives set out in the the Youth Homelessness Strategy, the CAS for Care Leavers Scheme should be expanded + resourced to allow for Tusla - Child and Family Agency , AHBs + local authorities to meet the demand for the scheme. #Budget24
📝epiconline.ie/pre-budget-sub…

The Youth Homelessness Strategy, which we have campaigned for since 2017, gives us an opportunity to prevent and end youth homelessness, but only if it is implemented urgently and effectively.

#EndYouthHomelessness
#YouthDay

In a study on homeless women in Ireland, 53% first experienced homelessness before the age of 25.

Preventing youth homelessness is essential in the effort end homelessness.

#YouthDay
#EndYouthHomelessness

On UN #YouthDay , it is important to highlight that of the 8,835 adults who are homeless in Ireland today, 17% are between the age of 18-24.

If we wish to truly end homelessness, as we have committed to working towards by 2030, then we must #EndYouthHomelessness

Children in state care must be given political priority in #Budget24 . Their care cannot be confined to Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, Youth or Tusla - Child and Family Agency alone. This is a whole of Government responsibility + every possible measure must be taken to ensure they have a stable, suitable, and safe home.

It was great to have William McNamara, Tusla - Child and Family Agency National Lead for Aftercare present to some of the EPIC team this morning. As William said 'a lot done, more to do!.' EPIC will continue to work with Tusla and other partners to support young care-leavers in Aftercare Services.

3⃣

🏘️Expand the CAS for Care Leavers Scheme to allow for @Tusla, AHBs and local authorities to meet the demand of the scheme.

#Budget24 #CareAware Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness

👏 Thanks to all our members for an engaging General Assembly and for contributing to insightful conversations!

🔛Looking forward to a busy afternoon of workspaces and site visits to Stockholm's #homelessness services - gearing up for the main #FEANTSAForum day tomorrow!