Discount Clarinex Overnight Delivery and Tramadol (Old) and Glucotrol Without Prescription

On June 17th last, the Board of the Honmeless Agency, which includes three representatives from the Homelessness Network – one from MQI, Sonas and myself, had a special meeting to review the status of the ‘mapping’ documentation and the reconfiguration implementation plan. This is the plan and document which clarifies which NGO will be providing what services from each local authority. From this meeting it is now very clear that a number of very significant and key challenges exist in order to achieve the 2010 objective of the Partnership and National plan ‘The Way Home’.
From the Dublin Simon Community’s perspective we have satisfactorily concluded our discussions after some very tough talks, which included the Homeless Agency, Local Authorities (LA), HSE and ourselves. I am now aware of follow up actions which are taking place to source replacement buildings for Harcourt St etc., plus progress being made setting up L.A Placement Service, the Regional Contact and Outreach Team and many more initiatives demonstrating agreement, commitment and partnership in the interests of all.
But, in the meantime, there remain very significant concerns in relation to securing the long term accommodation promised to underpin the draft mapping document. This is the key central and crucial issue to drive completion of the reconfiguration.
There are some additional important issues still needing attention; e.g. statutory funding arrangements between the HSE and the Department of Environment (DOE). There are still questions behind the details also coming from the DOE. There of course is the not unreasonable requests to see the ‘cost saving and benefits’ expected before the implementation is signed off. While taken together this may be dragging out the sign off in this desperate economic climate and it is not unexpected.
So the pressure now has shifted in earnest to NGO’s like us to develop budget estimates with Service Level Agreements, embracing of proposed service changes etc. No easy task!
In the meantime, we all need to have a strong resolve to continue to believe we are doing the right thing in committing to reconfiguration in line with the ‘mapping’ document expectations and driving the implementation across the sector as it is very much in the best interests of those we serve.
SAM

We submitted our interest in participating in the Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum in the Mid East Region consisting of the counties of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.  We attended the first meeting of the Forum in Kildare  last week.  The Forum is established by the three Local Authorities creating a three year Homeless Action Plan.

Simon will also be members of Kildare, Wicklow and Bray Homeless Fora that create a County Homeless Action Plan.The Simon Communities of Ireland are now represented on all the nine Homelessness Consultative Fora across the Country.

Simon Homeless Support Worker in Wicklow area
Following from our conversations and research in the Wicklow/Bray area, we have begun a six month pilot programme of establishing a Simon presence in Wicklow/Bray.   Anne Jordan previously worked for Wicklow County Council as a homeless outreach worker, and will now work with Simon during this pilot programme. Her role is to engage with the homeless population, asses their needs, and work in partnership with local services to provide assistance and referrals to accommodation/health services.

Anne will be based in Wicklow/Bray Area.

Kildare Homelessness

We have recently been approached by the Probation Service in Kildare to assist them in providing information on how a ‘Wet Facility’ operates for those with alcohol and drug addiction. Currently there is no emergency accommodation in the County that provides ‘wet rooms’ where residents can drink on site.  Simon is endeavouring to progress this initiative with the assistance of Kildare Local Authority and local services.

The Mini-Counted In, run by the Homeless Agency, took place this week (28th – 2nd July). The objective of the survey is to enumerate the number of persons at risk of sleeping rough and experiencing homelessness who are using homeless services. The survey is covering rough sleeping services, day services and emergency accommodation services. Evidence gathered from the survey will be used to verify the current extent of ‘rooflessness’ and use of emergency services; provide housing allocations required to meet the 2010 vision to end the need to sleep rough and long-term homelessness; and estimate the range and quantum of housing support required to help people live as independently as possible. Paul Matthews (RST) is co-ordinating for Dublin Simon and all forms will be collected on Wednesday. Thank you to all services for facilitating this process.

This year’s health survey will take place during the week of July 26th – August 2nd. The purpose of the survey is to ascertain the health needs of people using Dublin Simon services over a one week period. While Dublin Simon is well-known for working with some of the most vulnerable in our city, this survey will produce evidence based information which will be used for campaigning, lobbying and funding purposes. The results of the survey will be available for all and will be distributed throughout the organisation. Thank you to all services for partaking in this important piece of research.

We wish the following Full Time Volunteer placements a very warm welcome to the Dublin Simon Community:

Ritchie Stafford – Harcourt st.
Sharon Remidianakis – Rehab.
We wish them every success in their placement with DSC!!

We wish Grace Harkness from Detox the very best for the future as she heads off back to university after spending the last year in a full time volunteer placement with the Dublin Simon Community.

New Part Time Volunteers:

Following the May Recruitments, Inductions and Training for the Rough Sleeper Team, Soup Run, Simon Social Club and our Detox Unit Part time Volunteers; please give the following new Part Time Placements a very warm welcome…

Paul Huston - Mon SC
Moira Scott ( Pioneer ) - Tue SC
Sara Albizatti ( Pioneer attendance every 3 weeks) - Tue SC
Cherida Naughton ( Pioneer attendance every 2 weeks) - Tue SC
Jackie Byrne - Tue SC
Elaine Dunbar - Tue SC
Karen Riall –  Wed SC
Louise Burchall - Wed SC
Brian O Neill - Wed SC
David Burns - Wed SC
Rebecca Morrin - Thurs SR
Caoimhe McMullan - Fri SR
Derek Hollingsworth - Fri SR
Laura Smith - Fri SR
Aoife Kirwan - Fri SR
Olayemi Opeseyitan - Sat SR
Gretta Piazza - Sat SR
Catherine O Neill - Sat SR
David Leonard Sun – SR
Alison Martin - Sun SR
Aisling Darcy - Sun SR
Jamie Kirby - Sun SR
Andrea Horan - Sun SR
Debbie Nestor - Tue Detox

We would like to wish them every Success!

On the 10th of May, we at Dublin Simon Detox undertook a trip out to sea on a boat from Ringsend. There were six service users and two staff (Edel Mulligan and David Farrell). We set out from the detox unit at 9 a.m and made our way to Ringsend on the Luas. Everybody was excited as some of our service users had never been on a boat before.

When we arrived at the dock we were treated to tea and biscuits. However just as we set sail the weather turned for the worse and we had to scramble to get into the cabin out of the rain. Luckily this was only a shower and passed after a couple of minutes and the sun came out. We were now free to enjoy life on the open sea!

We sailed out as far as Poolbeg lighthouse, having to stop along the way to retrieve one of the service users’ hats! We were supposed to go out to sea, however the water was too rough. Some people got absolutely drenched by the waves while the ‘cute’ ones stayed in the cabin drinking tea!

All in all, it was a great day out that was enjoyed by everyone!

A big welcome to Dublin Simon Community to:

Sangeetha Bala: Database Administrator
Emma De Bryun: Fundraising and Office Assistant
Ceri Teggin: Campaigns and Media Assistant Work Placement

Wednesday 07.07.10 Fire Safety 1/2 day
Friday 16.07.10 Sharps Training 1/2 day
Thursday 29.07.10 Life Skills Group 2 2 days

The Service User Participation Group is now up and running with 8 staff members and 9 Service Users.   The group has met three times since May.   We are currently working on ways to develop service user participation initiatives based on feedback received from focus groups held earlier in the year and will update you as progress is made and our official name is chosen.

It was a day  for some who have never experienced the feeling of pure competitiveness and team work! Both staff and residents were split into teams for what would be a very important  afternoon of competition and fun!! A day of bowling and quazer was the plan.  The bowling was first, it was a warm up for the real competition which saw both staff and residents engage in an all out laser war!! After 30 minutes of running around in the dark, the two teams emerged exhausted and elated,  however this did not last long before engaging in another competition to see who achieved the highest score!!!  To end the day, staff had prepared a picnic for all involved, which was enjoyed and very much needed

I began work with the Dublin Simon Community in 2003 hoping that I could do something to improve the lives of people and to make them feel more part of society.  The job I applied for was with the Resettlement Service and I would be helping people move into accommodation, and making sure that they have the skills to live independently.  It sounded pretty straight forward to me at the time.  Well it isn’t.
Living alone after a lengthy period of homelessness is a major adjustment, both on a practical level and also socially and psychologically.  For many of our clients, homelessness is a culture, a way of life they have become so used to, and it is hard to make the change to living in mainstream society.  It is lonely for one thing.  Living in a homeless hostel, for all its foibles, does provide company for people, three meals a day and on-site support from staff. Moving into a bedsit can be too difficult a transition for many people and many clients find themselves back on the streets for one reason of another, often within a matter of weeks. The reason the resettlement service was set up was to try to break this ‘cycle of homelessness’.
Over the years, we have discovered which factors impact on a person’s ability to resettle successfully.  A thorough assessment of need is an important part of the process.  A relationship develops between the client and worker during the assessment stage, where the client (hopefully) gains enough trust in their worker to talk about the issues, sometimes quite personal, which have contributed to their homelessness. Sometimes all a person needs is a place to live.  More often, however, we will help the client to set in place a support plan which will address other issues such as health, training and employment, and addiction support.
I think the relationship we have with our clients is really important.  Clients are often suspicious of services, due to past experience, and what they really appreciate is genuine hospitality, somebody really listening to them and trying to understand them and their needs.
Once the assessment is complete we put together a support plan which will address a person’s housing needs and any other support needs which may have cropped up during the assessment.  With the new “housing first” model being employed by homeless services in Dublin, we are concentrating on finding independent accommodation for people such as private rented, or a council flat.  Once a person secures accommodation they will be referred to our tencancy sustainment team.
The term “homeless people” to me is a label. The service users we meet are no different from you and me. We all have the same needs for food, shelter, good healthcare, and social and psychological wellbeing.  This means having a decent home, meaningful activity such as a job or course, and social support.  We have recently been looking at ways to help people integrate more fully into the wider community.  Examples of this would be attending art classes, volunteering, and attending social clubs.
Over the years, I have heard nothing but positive feedback about the Simon Community from the people I meet.  What I consistently hear people talk about is the genuine care and understanding they receive from Dublin Simon staff. People are treated with respect, and are treated as equals.  I feel proud for myself and for the Community because of the work we do.   It’s simple enough; if we believe in people, then they will believe in themselves. At the end of the day if we are hoping to foster independence in people, then they need to stand on their own two feet eventually.

It was all things horticulture down in the treatment services on Thursday 24th June. Volunteers from Diageo (our neighbours across the road), donated 4 hours of their working day to transform the space in front of the building from a bleak wasteland to a vibrant and colourful garden. They had also donated €1,000 euro towards the purchase of materials. The design of the garden and actual purchase of all the materials is down to Pius from the Dublin Simon maintenance department. Pius along with David, our full-time volunteer in Detox, co-ordinated the volunteers on the day and ensured everything went smoothly. A huge thank you goes to the both of them, the team from Diageo and also other supporters who donated to the project through Donor 2 Deed via the dubsimon.ie website! The whole project was very successful and all we have to do now is maintain it!

Nine months ago I started a journey into the unknown. After meeting with and being interviewed by Aoife, the Volunteer co-ordinator, I was placed in the Rehab part of Dublin Simon Treatment Services. I knew very little about addiction at the time and my god have I learnt a lot over my time here. I came from a background in Media, working as a Television Researcher but I had always had an interest in social justice issues and knew I wanted a change in direction. I saw the opportunity to volunteer with Dublin Simon as a time to gain an invaluable insight into the issues facing Dublin’s homeless, first hand.  I hadn’t realised when I was placed in Rehab, that it would shape the direction I would want to take in terms of my career. I am now sure that the area of addiction is one I want to concentrate on.

I have met so many people I would never have met otherwise, both service users and staff. I have had an opportunity to learn about aspects of rehabilitation like relapse prevention and to co-facilitate groups. One of the highlights of my time so far has been the setting up of my film classes on a Wednesday evening. I believe that as a volunteer it is my responsibility to bring a new dimension or an added innovation to the service. I as a volunteer am in the lucky position that I can try and do something creative and interesting while the paid workers have to get on with the daily grind of work.

The initial idea for the classes was that people would learn how to make a one minute video film on whatever topic they chose. However over the weeks people expressed their different interests and it was soon clear that some people wanted to work with stills while others wanted to work with video. We worked on storyboards and watched other short films which inspired ideas in people. Over the weeks some ideas were scrapped in favour of new ones, while some participants stuck steadfastly to their initial thoughts. Wednesday nights became a creative hub and included outings to practise using the cameras. The group worked very well, offering each other support and ideas when people were unsure of how to come up with the next step in their project. The feedback from the participants was very uplifting. What began as a short run of classes is still going strong over three months later!! As anyone who has started a new group will know, there is always the apprehension of will anyone come? Will they enjoy it? Will they learn anything? These are all thoughts I had on the first evening but I could not have been happier with the response.

The group had its film world premier in Ushers Island, with a great turn out. It gave everyone a chance to talk about their individual projects and what the process of making them was like for them. It was wonderful to be able to mark their achievements in this way. Some participants enjoyed the group so much that although they are leaving the Rehab, they will still be coming back for those Wednesday night classes!!

So I suppose to finish I have been able to learn so much about myself over the past nine months and I have taken on many personal challenges over the course of my time volunteering. I have gotten so much out of the supports in place and the advice offered every step of the way. The opportunity to embark on so many different types of training has also been invaluable.

I am three months away from finishing and as everyone says the time really has flown. I am two weeks away from finishing my Certificate in Addiction Studies not something I would ever have imagined having done this time last year and I have many other training courses behind me. When I think of the uninitiated me arriving in Rehab last August (drinking copious amounts of Tea to blend in) I realise how far I have come and how much I have learned. My time as a volunteer really has opened up a whole new world to me.

Mia

Thursday 10.06.10 Life Skills Group 1 2 days
Wednesday 16.06.10 Organisational Induction 1 day
Tuesday 29.06.10 Manual Handling 1/2 day

All Local Authorities are responsible to develop Regional Homelessness Action Plans for the next three years. The plans should be developed in consultation with statuary and voluntary services in each Local Authority area.  Dublin Simon is currently working with the Homeless Network and Homeless Agency for the development of the Dublin Homelessness Action Plan incorporating the four local authorities in Dublin.

Both counties of Kildare and Wicklow are joining with Meath for a Mid East Regional Homelessness Action Plan.  Based on current and past area development work in Wicklow and Kildare, we will be submitting our interest to be part of the consultation process in the establishment of the Mid East Regional Homelessness Action Plan.

In the past number of weeks we have met with both Kildare and Wicklow County Council officials, their Directors of Housing and Senior Executive Officers to engage with them to see how we can promote Simon Services and our benefits. We are currently identifying the needs of homeless individuals in Kildare/Wicklow so we can create a Simon Strategy that develops programmes or services in these localities.