Radio Nova’s ‘Help Our Homeless’ Radiothon has returned for another year. The two-day event will see us turn over our airwaves to raise vital funds from donations from the public and local businesses to help Focus Ireland fight homelessness in the Greater Dublin area. The Radiothon takes place over Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th March from 7am-7pm. Radio Nova personalities including Lucy Kennedy, Colm Hayes, Ruth Scott, Pat Courtenay and many other will be manning the phones and urging listeners to make donations to this important cause.
A special call centre will be set-up at Radio Nova’s HQ in the Dublin’s Docklands with Focus Ireland staff manning the phones to accept donations. Also, a host of celebrities including musicians, comedians and actors will be lending their support to the campaign.
It’s the 5th year that Radio Nova has run its pledge drive for Focus Ireland.
Last year Focus Ireland supported over 400 families to move out of homelessness. However, the latest figures show that there are now a record total of 9987 men, women and children homeless. It is shocking to see that nearly 4,000 of the people homeless are children.
Focus Ireland Advocacy Director Mike Allen said: “Focus Ireland research shows that even a short period of homelessness often has a very negative impact on families – and their children. Over 40% of the families who are homeless in Dublin are now in emergency accommodations for over a year.”
Focus Ireland are also concerned that due to the limited amount of new rental stock available and rising rents there will be fewer opportunities to move out of homelessness and people will be stuck in emergency accommodation for longer.
Radio Nova CEO Kevin Branigan said: “Focus Ireland did amazing work last year by helping over 15,500 people who were homeless or at risk of losing their home. We are urging Radio Nova listeners to once again show their amazing generosity by raising vital funds to make sure Focus Ireland are there when people need support.”
Radio Nova and Focus Ireland are now calling on the public to support ‘The Help Our Homeless Radiothon’ on Wednesday, March 13th and Thursday, March 14th.
More information is available at www.homelessradiothon.ie
More Information:
Elaine Leonard
Radio Nova
t: (01) 5241100
e: [email protected]
