O.N.E. (The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) have been raising public awareness and aid for the homeless Irish Defence Forces veterans today by using by specially-created Tricolour sleeping bags in Dublin.
Set against Ireland’s current homelessness crisis, the homeless organisation claims they’ve helped hundreds of homeless male and female Defence Forces veterans who have served abroad in conflict zones abroad.
With bases in Letterkenny, Dublin and Athlone, O.N.E. says they provide over 16,000 bed nights every year and help 95% of the veterans move on to permanent housing.
CEO of O.N.E., Ollie O’Connor, said: “Our first homeless hostel opened in direct response to a number of veterans dying on the streets of Dublin.
“Since then, we’ve helped over 900 homeless veterans from all over Ireland who could have faced the same situation. These Sleeping Flags are bags we never wanted to make, but if we can’t get enough funding, our veterans will end up back on the streets.
“The men and women we’re helping have a special affinity with the Tricolour. These are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and our next door neighbours who joined the Irish Defence Forces to serve their country.
“When they joined up, they were young fit men and women. They didn’t put up their hands to become homeless veterans.”
For more information on the Sleeping Flags Appeal, or to make a donation to O.N.E. visit sleepingflags.ie
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