01-08-2025
Homeless action group appeals for more volunteers in Dublin
Dublin Homeless Awareness performs welfare checks, delivers first aid, offers information on addiction support and helps book emergency accommodation.
Brandon O'Connor (23), from Donaghmede, founded the group in 2018 as part of a school project.
'They asked me to do something with the community,' he said.
'I wanted to do something on addiction and homelessness because, when I was growing up, my mother was in and out of active addiction and homelessness.'
Initially, Mr O'Connor recruited classmates from his own year in school, but now visits other schools and colleges to recruit new members.
'We go to colleges and to sixth years in schools. We hand out leaflets. But we also use Instagram, TikTok, Facebook to recruit,' he said.
Mr O'Connor said the group needs more volunteers because the work of Dublin Homeless Awareness extends far beyond a night warden service.
' We start around 7pm or 8pm and then finish around 1am,' he said.
'We carry out welfare checks on the homeless in Dublin city and county. We provide basic first aid if they need it. We book people into accommodation.
'We're like the middle man in getting people in contact with services like addiction and mental health support.'
Mr O'Connor said he chose to start the organisation because he 'loves helping people', but admitted the work can sometimes be difficult as they 'deal with very serious instances'.
Many of the group's 15 volunteers use the service as a 'stepping stone' to gain relevant experience in their chosen field.
'A lot of the lads would've gone on to become guards or paramedics. So we have one guard in the team at the moment, but he's leaving soon,' he said.
The group carries defibrillators and other life-saving tools while they patrol Dublin's streets, and any prospective volunteers receive training when they sign up.
'We carry basic first aid equipment on our duty belts. If we carry first aid bags they can get robbed because people think there's medication,' he said.
'We also carry rescue control bags, so we can throw them into the river if someone is in the water. We have fire extinguishers as well in case tents go on fire.'
Mr O'Connor said the busiest time of year for the volunteer group is the summer.
'People on the streets won't avail of emergency accommodation and binge drink later in the evening,' he said.
'That leads to more assaults, more overdoses, and people usually tend to go into services in winter.'
Mr O'Connor said Dublin Homeless Awareness urgently needs more volunteers and is appealing for people over the age of 18 to get involved.
'I'd want 40 volunteers just so we could be Monday to Sunday,' he said.
While the organisation is mainly targeted at young people, Mr O'Connor said they will welcome volunteers at any age over 18.
