Depaul has been named as one of 50 global community organisations to receive a grant of £500,000 in catalytic funding as part of the Citi Foundation’s 2024 Global Innovation Challenge, which aims to support solutions that address homelessness.
Supporting people experiencing homelessness across the island of Ireland, Depaul supported over 10,000 people – including over 1,400 families – in 2023 as homelessness continued to reach unprecedented levels.
Responding and adapting to the changing needs of their service users is key for the Depaul team both in Northern Ireland and the Republic. The landscape of homelessness is changing and evolving the services offered and training staff helps Depaul meet demands more effectively in Northern Ireland.
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Commenting on their successful application to the Global Innovation Challenge Depaul CEO David Carroll said: “We are really pleased to have been chosen for this funding and incredibly exciting to partner with Citi in Northern Ireland. Funding of this nature allows us to evolve and adapt our services and meet our service users with the support they need when they need it. In this case the funding will enable us to increase our specialist staff for services which cater to women leaving the prison service in Northern Ireland. This funding will go a long way to helping us to support these individuals to access things like housing and healthcare.”
Compounded by the ongoing cost of living crisis, dwindling private rental accommodation, and a continued lack of development of social and affordable housing, Northern Ireland’s homelessness crisis has continued to deepen this year, with the number of households with homelessness status rising above 30,000 in June. Over the past year, the Depaul have showed dedication, resilience and innovation in the face of unprecedented needs and the changing face of homelessness across Northern Ireland.
Reflecting on Citi Foundation’s 2024 Global Innovation Challenge, Citi Belfast Site Head Peter Holden said, “In January 2024, the Citi Foundation issued its Global Innovation Challenge Request for Proposals and committed to grant a collective $25 million to 50 community organisations around the world who are advancing solutions to homelessness and are creating meaningful impact.
“We are delighted that Depaul is one of the three UK charities that have been awarded $500,000 to support individuals, families and communities locally. These funds will help to enhance the important work Depaul does to support those experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland and across the Island of Ireland. Underpinning our ethos of ‘living locally, working globally,’ the Citi Belfast team have been inspired by Depaul’s work and have proudly committed to further strengthening our relationship through added volunteer support.”
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Citi Belfast is committed to investing in local communities, working to catalyse positive social impact. Northern Ireland’s largest financial services employer, Citi has continuously worked to ensure that company policies are aligned with best practice, workplaces are accessible and welcoming, and that their culture enables people to come to work as their authentic self. Through Citi’s Global Community Day, Citi colleagues, friends, family, alumni, community partners and clients have served more than 5.5 million volunteer hours across over 90 countries and territories in over 450 cities. The volunteering events, connections made and stories shared each year are a celebration of the positive impact that can be made when individuals and organisations leverage their time, skills and talent.
For more information, including the complete list of grant recipients, please visit citifoundation.com/challenge and follow the impact these organisations are making at #InnovationChallenge on social media.
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