Letter from the Chairman

Welcome to the Home Again website.

Home Again was founded in 1965 by Fr Michael Sweetman SJ to provide a safe environment for children who would otherwise be homeless at a very vulnerable age. Now, as then, the aim is to provide care in as close to a home environment as possible for as long as necessary. We work in close conjunction with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, who refer children to us and who provide monitoring and support.

Currently, we have two houses in Dublin which can accommodate up to five boys. Both houses are staffed by fully qualified social workers. We also have a one bedroom apartment, part funded by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, which is occupied either by one of our former residents, or by someone who has been in residential care with a similar organisation. The apartment is available usually for one to two years to support the occupant while in further education or training.

In 2014 we employed a dedicated Aftercare Support Worker. The Aftercare Support Worker works with some of our former residents as well as current residents approaching the end of their stay with Home Again. The Aftercare Support Worker supports these residents in navigating their way through educational placements, job applications and obtaining safe and secure accommodation. The aftercare service also provides an informal network for current and former residents to support each other. This service has been warmly welcomed by many of our former residents. The Aftercare Support Worker role is funded entirely by Home Again without any state funding.

Tusla, the Child & Family Agency, provides a grant in respect of our day to day funding. The voluntary sector, like all others in recent times, has been under financial pressure and the grant funding covers most of our expenses but it does not cover them all. In keeping with our ethos, Home Again often funds extra supports for those in its care. This could range from counselling to educational courses, grinds or music lessons.

If you would like to get involved, or to donate, then please get in touch. We would be delighted to hear from you.

With every good wish,

Stephen O’Leary
Chairman, Home Again