As Director of Fundraising at Depaul International, I am privileged to work alongside some incredible women. From our Chair, Helen, to the 75%-female team at Depaul International, to the hundreds of other amazing women throughout the Depaul Group who are all passionately committed to achieving a world where homelessness has no place. Last month, one of these amazing women, Lydia Stazen, Executive Director of The Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness and Chair of the United Nations Working Group to End Homelessness, invited me to speak at an official side event of the UN’s 62nd Commission for ..read more

First appeared here on Euronews. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began two years ago, was an event that changed the world. Sadly, we hear every day from our colleagues in Ukraine how the situation on the ground is as grave as it ever has been. The war in Ukraine and other conflicts around the world is one of the most pressing global drivers of homelessness. UN figures show 85% of the total population of Gaza — 1.9 million civilians — have been forcibly displaced since the beginning of the war. In Iraq, the war of 2003 resulted in millions of people migrating to different cities ..read more

“We stick together – we live as one single family.”  These were the words of Hortense, who lives in Benin with her husband and children. A lived experience expert, Hortense is one of the estimated one billion people living in slums or informal settlements worldwide. Recognised as a form of homelessness by the Institute of Global Homelessness, slums are often characterised by overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to basic services. Yet, as Hortense noted, there is a strong sense of community in her local area – fostered with support from Vincentian projects.  Hor ..read more

Migration and homelessness  Migration and homelessness are interlinked, crossing paths in many ways. Factors such as language challenges, legal status, a lack of social networks, difficulty accessing services and prejudice means that migrants may be at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness.  Homelessness can have a negative impact on the health of migrants, who may face physical and mental health issues, abuse and stigma. To alleviate the risk of homelessness, migrants may have to depend on informal networks, relocate frequently, or remain in unsuitable or overcrowded housing ..read more

From the outside, the Dax house is charming: a beautiful, Victorian cottage with a porch, located just fifteen minutes away from two major Los Angeles colleges. Stepping inside, I’m struck by how homely it feels. A bouquet of flowers sits on the dining table. Bright, colourful artwork lines the walls painted by clients from the Depaul Los Angeles Day Centre. Every bedroom is spacious and tastefully decorated. In the kitchen, pans, plates and utensils fill the drawers and cupboards. The house is Depaul USA’s first Los Angeles residence in the Dax Program, which provides accommodation to studen ..read more

In 1617, St Vincent de Paul was asked by one of his benefactors, “what must be done?”   400 years later, this question is the driving force behind Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA) 13 Houses Campaign, a global initiative drawing its inspiration from the work of St Vincent in 17th-century Paris. Realising that his work feeding children living on the street was not a long-term solution to homelessness, St Vincent built 13 houses to care for them. By working in partnership with the Congregation of the Mission, the Daughters of Charity and the Ladies of Charity, the 13 houses ensured that ..read more

As we mark both World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day today, it is crucial that we highlight how closely these two issues are interconnected. Mental health conditions can lead to homelessness and can also prevent those experiencing homelessness from getting back on their feet. If we are to succeed in ending homelessness globally, housing, mental health and employment policies must be invested in, to ensure accessible support is available to all.   One in eight people globally are living with a mental health condition, which may lead to them being at a higher risk of factors ..read more

Nearly 9 in 10 people in Ukraine do not have enough money to cover their living expenses, new report finds  13th September, Ukraine: A new report from global homelessness charity, Depaul International, shows 88 per cent of people surveyed in Ukraine do not have enough money to cover their living expenses. Only a third reported being satisfied with their current living conditions, with 31 per cent being forced to share a bedroom with another family and 43 per cent not knowing how long they will be able to stay in their current accommodation.  Respondents incl ..read more

Today we are launching our 2022 Impact Report, which looks back at our lifesaving work last year in seven countries across the world and through our global partnerships with the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) and Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA).   Overall, we supported 134,440 people in 2022, including making 627,098 bed nights available and providing 10,915,903 meals, which includes our response to the war in Ukraine. Explore the 2022 Impact Report here or watch this video below for a taster of all we’ve achieved.  http://int.depaulcharity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/1 ..read more

Depaul International is delighted to be a sector partner on Homewards, The Royal Foundation’s new programme to end homelessness. Depaul’s first project, a hostel in Willesden for young people experiencing homelessness, was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1990. Since then, our teams on the ground have witnessed homelessness become an ever-growing issue. We therefore welcome the launch of Homewards today, which will showcase that, through collaboration, ending homelessness is possible. Homewards is a 5-year-long programme, launching in six flagship locations across the UK. Locally-led coa ..read more