Homeless initiative appeals for Donegal volunteers

AN initiative that provides sanitary products to homeless women is calling for volunteers to help it branch out into Donegal.

The Homeless Period Ireland initially started out life as a solely Dublin-based organisation. Due to demand however it is now helping homeless women and women in crisis in ten counties.

And the woman behind the project, Claire Hunt, says that if she can find the volunteers, she would be delighted to start providing services in Donegal.

Claire Hunt, lead co-ordinator of the Homeless Period Ireland project. The iniative provides sanitary supplies to homeless women and women in crisis.

Ms Hunt got involved with Homeless Period Dublin after watching the Ken Loach film, ‘I, Daniel Blake’. In it struggling single mother Katie is caught shoplifting sanitary products from her local store.

Following the retirement of Homeless Period Dublin’s founder, Claire Hunt decided to take over the organisation and make it an Ireland-wide project.

Ms Hunt said, “Initially it was about providing for women in Direct Provision Centres but thankfully the Department of Justice has now decided that they will provide the necessary sanitary products. These women receive something like €20 per week so it is a disgrace that they weren’t getting them in the first place.

“But there are still a lot of family resource centres throughout the country where women are in desperate need of these items. Go to any of the food banks here in Dublin and they will tell you that when women come in, the sanitary product shelves are the first thing they go for.
“So ideally I would love something in every county. I have to work out first if there is a need in every county but absolutely, I would love to hear from volunteers in Donegal.”

Ms Hunt said that in a perfect world sanitary towels and other associated products would be available in facilities such as libraries, schools and sports arenas such as football and GAA grounds.

“These are not luxury items. They are something every woman needs and they should be readily available,” she added.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the Homeless Period Ireland can do so by logging on to Facebook or by emailing thehomelessperioddublin@gmail.com.

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere