This Friday, people all over Ireland will stand with Focus Ireland to warn that we can never accept child homelessness as normal.

Over 5,000 children in Ireland are now homeless, and Focus Ireland is taking a stand to demand a future in which every child has a safe place to call home.

People all over Ireland will join the charity in marking World Homeless Day this Friday by taking part in the Shine A Light campaign

Now in its 13th year, the campaign, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy, sees people sleeping out in their homes, gardens or workplaces to raise vital funds for the fight against homelessness.

The campaign has raised millions of euros for the fight against homelessness since it was launched – with last year’s events raising a total of €1.2 million.

Just weeks after Government figures confirmed that there was a record 5,014 children in emergency accommodation in August, this year’s event is firmly focused on ending child homelessness for good.

Focus Ireland believes that no child should ever experience the heartbreak of homelessness – but it needs your help to reach its goal.

Niamh Peilow, Cohesity, pictured at Cork City Gaol for The Focus Ireland Shine A Light sleepout, 13-10-2024. Image: Michael O'Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

You can support the Shine a Light campaign by supporting someone you know who is taking part this Friday.

If you don’t know anybody taking part, you can also donate directly to the campaign – every euro makes a difference to children and families without a home.

You can also donate through Revolut with just a few taps by opening the app, tapping ‘RevPoints’ and finding Focus Ireland under ‘Donations’.

Lastly, it is not too late to sign up to Shine A Light and make your own impact in the fight against child homelessness by sleeping out this Friday.

Focus Ireland is also asking people to sign its No Child Without a Home petition here.