Novas Initiatives Street Outreach

Novas Initiatives Street Outreach provides food and advice to men and women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It operates seven nights a week, from 7pm to 8pm, on Limerick’s O’Connell Street. Established in the winter of 2009, it is run by a team of local volunteers and is coordinated on a voluntary basis by Sinéad Carey. It receives ongoing support from the Greenhill’s Hotel. Service users come from a variety of backgrounds and often struggle with a range of issues, including; financial problems, unemployment, addiction issues, poor mental health, family breakdown, disability, social isolation, poor education, legal issues, and non-entitlement to social welfare. People are dealt with in a caring, supportive and non-judgemental manner and anyone who wishes to avail of the service is very welcome. The initiative has recently met with national attention and a huge increase in goodwill from the local community, following its inclusion in RTE’s Secret Millionaire. The number of volunteers involved has quadrupled and offers of support have flooded in, resulting in the expansion of Street Outreach, highlighting the need for such a service in the city. Registered charity Novas Initiatives’ other Limerick services are McGarry House (accommodation for homeless men and women), Brother Stephen Russell House (accommodation for homeless men), Novas Initiatives Community Detox, Intensive Family Support Service (support for families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, out of hours service for homeless people) and DIAL (residential service for care leavers with intellectual disabilities). For more info call Sinéad Carey at 085 7376411.

Richard with Sinéad Carey from Novas