Services
Our goal is to help those in need in Dublin to keep a roof over their heads and overcome temporary setbacks.
Anyone can fall on hard times and many individuals and families in Dublin are struggling. Budgets are tight and unexpected events such as serious illness and inability to work can throw an individual or an entire family off balance. SIRKS tries to help bridge the gap when the unforeseen happens or when already complex situations reach a tipping point.
Please note all requests for assistance must be vouched for by accredited social workers from approved agencies. Social worker guidelines are available here.
How We Support People in Need
#1. A Fresh Start
A struggling individual or family who have lost their accommodation due to a combination of illness, job loss and rising rents will require a lot of support to start over.
An elderly person living alone in reduced circumstances may be unable to cover unexpected costs such as a major plumbing repair.
A cooker, kitchen furniture, bedding, adequate flooring — any of these items can be beyond the already stretched budget of an individual or family. We receive regular requests for assistance towards the purchase of these items.
#2. Short-Term Assistance
Sudden serious illness can affect people’s ability to earn and support a family, pay their mortgage and other costs. Many individuals do not qualify for benefits. Their circumstances can decline very rapidly leading to increased stress and hardship and the fear of losing their home.
#3. Unlocking Opportunity
September — the start of the school and college year — new beginnings and opportunities.
But for some this is a time of anxiety: providing for necessary equipment such as a laptop can make for real difficulties for a hard-pressed individual or family.
What we provide:
A late starter re-entering education with a view to developing their skillset for the workforce may need help towards the purchase of a laptop or towards their final-year course fees.
A once-off course certification which will open gateways to employment can be life-changing for a young person.
Recent Examples of Assistance we have provided
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Elderly
An elderly applicant was referred to Roomkeepers by a hospital as the patient had a large electricity bill which they were unable to pay.
We were able to assist with a once-off payment and supply food vouchers to help the person get through a particularly difficult time.
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Terminal Illness
A terminally-ill applicant, unfit for work and living alone, with no entitlement to housing assistance, provided with food vouchers to help tide them over a very rough patch.
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Reduced Circumstances
Supporting a middle-aged couple, one of whom was struck down with a serious illness.
With reduced income, no benefit entitlements and rapidly mounting bills, they could no longer meet their needs. Food vouchers were provided to help tide them over.
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Complex Health Needs
Providing an elderly applicant with complex health needs and living in sub-standard accommodation with the necessary funding (making up a shortfall which State authorities and other charities could not provide) so that pest-extermination, deep-cleaning, and essential furniture and bedding replacement could take place.
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Education-Related Costs
Assisting a family who had fallen behind in education-related costs for one of their children, in circumstances where the sole-earner in the family was unexpectedly but temporarily unwell and unable to work. The family has several children, including one with additional needs.
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Essential Medical Costs
Assisting with essential medical costs for a house-bound applicant with a serious illness and who, for complex domestic reasons, had been unable to access any medical advice or assistance for eight years.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funding the purchase of specialist sensory toys and educational aids for a child living with an autism spectrum disorder in circumstances where the child and their family (including several sibling) live in crowded accommodation, and the toys and aids assist the child when they are over-stimulated.
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Specialist Footwear
Funding the purchase of specialist footwear needed by the applicant due to after-effects of their cancer treatment.
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Skip Hire & Waste Removal
Funding the cost of skip hire to assist with the removal of waste from the de-cluttering of a house/garden which helped facilitate the return of the family’s children from social care.
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Home Security System
Funding the purchase and installation of a home security system for an applicant with complex additional mental health difficulties who had moved into a new home.
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Car Insurance
Funding the cost of car insurance for a family living in accommodation for the homeless who need to bring their children to a school which is over 20km away.
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Home Decoration
Funding the purchase of paint so that a partner charity could repaint the house of an elderly person.
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Wheelchair-Accessible Ramp
Funding part of the cost of a specialist wheelchair-accessible ramp to facilitate early discharge from hospital and return to home for a person with incurable cancer.
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Third Level School Fees
Funding one year’s fees for a level 7 course of education for a rehabilitated former drug user.
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Emergency Assistance Pendant Alarm
Funding the purchase of an emergency assistance pendant alarm for a person living alone and with multiple health issues, so that they may be able to continue living in their own home with some peace of mind.
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Occupational Health Report
Funding the cost of an occupational health report to facilitate an application for a house adaptation grant for a person with multiple health issues.
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Counselling Services
Funding counselling services for an older person whose marriage had broken up.
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Play Therapy
Funding play therapy for a child whose parents had broken up.
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Crèche Fees
Funding arrears of crèche fees for the child of a recently separated single parent.
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Autism Assessment
Funding an autism assessment to allow a child living in homelessness to take up their school place.
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Apartment Management Fees
Funding a portion of annual apartment management/maintenance fees for an elderly person, where those fees had substantially and unexpectedly increased.
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Headlice Treatment
Funding headlice treatment for the teenaged child of a single parent.
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Locksmith Costs
Funding locksmith costs for secure doors in the home of an autistic child.
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Specialist Disability Buggy
Funding the purchase of a specialised buggy for a child living with a disability.
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Landscaping Work
Funding landscaping work in the garden of a person living with blindness, so as to allow them safe access.
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New Born Baby Items
Funding the purchase of necessary baby items for a child due shortly to a pregnant woman currently in the asylum process.
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Cognitive Assessment
Funding a cognitive assessment for a teenager, which assessment had been recommended by the Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
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Dementia Assessment
Funding the cost of a driving assessment for a person with early-onset dementia who needs the use of a car in order to retain their independence.
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Security System
Funding the cost of security system for a person fleeing domestic abuse.
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Leisure Activity
Funding leisure activities for children who had a suffered a recent trauma in the family.
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Home Heating
Funding the cost of installation of a new radiator for person whose Social Welfare income was insufficient to meet both this cost and other essentials.
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Mental Health Counselling
Funding mental health counselling for a teenager who suffered sexual abuse.
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Home Improvements
Funding the cost of a new shower for a young mother with early onset dementia.
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School Materials
Funding the cost of school materials for children of single mother in emergency accommodation.
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Recliner / Riser Chair
Funding the cost of a recliner/riser chair for widowed person with mobility issues.
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Respite Care
Funding the cost of respite care for a person with a terminal illness.
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Home Repairs
Funding the cost of repair to a floor for a recently bereaved young woman on social welfare.
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Spectacles
Funding the purchase of spectacles for a registered blind person relying on Social Welfare.
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Reading Pen
Funding the purchase of a reading pen for a person with literacy issues and medical problems.
Their Stories
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The McGraths and their children had been homeless but were eventually allocated housing by the local authority.
Unfortunately, funds were insufficient to furnish the new accommodation to an acceptable level and aid was requested.
Funding was granted for the purchase of essential furnishings to help this family get on their feet.
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The O’Reillys were a low-income couple allocated an unfurnished house with concrete flooring.
Funding was requested to enable the purchase of suitable flooring and blinds.
Roomkeepers’ funding along with a contribution from another charity enabled this family to furnish their new home to an acceptable level.
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The Fitzgeralds were a couple with several small children, unable to manage and living in extreme poverty.
A state agency appealed to Roomkeepers for funding towards the purchase of white goods which we were able to supply, as well as food vouchers. This assistance helped the family to better manage their circumstances.
*Real names and identifying information are not used.
Print of the former SIRKS premises, Number 2 Palace Street, Dublin 2 (print measuring 15cm x 30.5 cm, print mounted on white cardboard measuring 28cm x 44 cm). Used with permission of Peter Pearson, © Peter Pearson. A one-page history of SIRKS is included with each purchase. Postage and Packaging included in the price.