SVP's Drop-in Centre in Limerick was opened in 2002. It provides daycare services to people experiencing homelessness and those vulnerable to becoming homeless in Limerick City and surrounding areas.
The Centre is an integral part of the homeless sector provision in Limerick. It is run by an experienced professional staff team and approximately 30 highly motivated and committed volunteers.
Our major goal is to prevent the progression to homelessness by those in accommodation but vulnerable to homelessness. We create links between service users and other service providers best placed to help. The Centre provides practical help (meals, food bank supplies, clothing) and emotional support and advocacy.
The Drop-in Centre offers services to meet the needs of the whole person in keeping with the ethos of SVP.
Staff and volunteers share their time, passion and skills to support service users as follows:
Service users are always welcome and we make everyone feel at home. We provide general support and understand the importance of the social aspect of the Centre. Many service users live alone or are homeless. Our care can make the difference in their lives. Volunteers and staff bring strong commitment and enthusiasm for supporting homeless and vulnerable people.
We support service users with personal issues. Providing a listening ear we build positive relationships with all service users who attend.
We provide food free of charge daily (sandwiches, tea or coffee). We also provide a limited number of hot dinners daily, which are outsourced from a Community Meals on Wheels Service. These meals are prioritised for those that are rough sleeping or are deemed to be particularly vulnerable. We regularly have sweet treats to share too. On Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:30pm we distribute non-perishable foods for those experiencing food poverty.
Shower facilities are available, and we can give a change of clothes on request.
We provide a laundry service, which gives priority to People sleeping rough. This service is also free of charge.
The Drop-In Centre collaborates with other specialist services to help people get specific supports for difficulties in areas such as housing, physical health, mental health, addiction, financial etc. We make formal referrals, with the person in order to ensure that they receive all of the available supports. We also link with SVP Home Visitation Conferences and the Mid West Regional Office to help people to avail of all that SVP has to offer in terms of assistance.
By providing advice, support and advocacy we can empower our service users.
The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is specially trained to respond to any queries in relation to child and vulnerable adult safeguarding. If you have any concerns you wish to discuss, please get in touch with the local DLP.
Centre Manager, Eimear Purcell - Mob: 085 854 1816
Email: Eimear.Purcell@svp.ie
You can read more about Safeguarding at SVP here
To read more about the Drop-in Centre, you can go to page 13 of our Summer 2023 SVP Bulletin click here