Safe Home Ireland was set up in 2000 to facilitate the desire for elderly Irish emigrants abroad to return home to live in their native area. Over the years, this national programme has evolved from simply providing a housing option for older Irish-born emigrant,s to providing a range of services including information and advice to all emigrants abroad and support to those who wish to return home.
Thinking of moving or returning to Ireland?
Coming Home’ no matter where ‘home’ is, is a process most emigrants reflect upon at some point in their lives abroad. For some the decision and process is clear and feasible - be it to return to Ireland after a few years abroad, return in retirement or happily remain in their adopted countries, while at the same time maintaining strong links with home. However life does not always pan out the way you intended it to especially if a partner is from a different country or children and grandchildren arrive. The decision to ‘stay of go’ then becomes more complex and many factors have to be considered.
For those who were compelled to leave Ireland for economic or other reasons but continued to support loved ones at home the option to return can be even more challenging as they may lack the means to do so or not know where/how to start. This is where Safe Home Ireland comes in.
Safe Home Ireland was set up as a Pilot Project in January 2000 by a Mayo based GP and the current Chairperson, Dr. Jerry Cowley. At that time, as a rural GP and Chairman of a Voluntary Housing scheme based in Co. Mayo, a number of people enquired about the possibility of their elderly relatives returning home to live in their native area. In a short time the interest and publicity surrounding the pilot project increased, with queries coming from all over the world. This highlighted the demand and need for a separate organisation to lobby on behalf of Irish emigrants wishing to return home permanently.
Over the years, Safe Home has evolved from simply providing a housing option for older Irish born emigrants. Alongside this role, they now provide a range of additional services, summarised as follows:
ADVICE & INFORMATION
Safe Home Ireland provide information and advice service to anyone (regardless of age or circumstances) who may be contemplating returning or moving to Ireland. This is particularly important for single people and families who are unsure where to start or what to do to begin with.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE
They assist qualifying Irish born emigrants to return home, primarily to social housing schemes back in their native areas. Safe Home Ireland do not manage or build any properties of our own but we work in conjunction with Housing Associations who provide housing for our qualifying applicants throughout Ireland. To apply for housing through Safe Home, applicants must be: (a) Irish born emigrants living abroad (b) aged 57 years or older (c) capable of independent living (d) living in rented accommodation abroad and unable to provide accommodation for themselves out of their own resources on their return to Ireland.
OUTREACH
As part of their outreach work, where it is feasible Safe Home Ireland carry out home visits with programme housing applicants throughout the UK. In the UK they meet with applicants in their own homes, go through the application process in detail, answer any questing and assess every individual situation. Where relevant, they can also refer applicants to local support services in the area to improve their situations (financial/housing/support), as they wait to return home to Ireland.
Safe Home Ireland also provide an outreach and advocacy service to people who have returned home (regardless of age or circumstances), who need assistance with general resettlement and integration in Ireland. This could include assistance with paperwork involved in applying for services, rights and entitlements as well as signposting other relevant support agencies that may be of assistance.
CONNECT
Finally, Safe Home Ireland acts as a link with home for emigrants who decide to remain on in their adopted countries. They do this primarily through their monthly Newsletter, which is disseminated globally as well as through social media platforms. ‘Coming Home’ may not be for everyone but staying connected with Ireland is particularly important for most emigrants.
Since their inception in 2000, Safe Home Ireland has supported almost 2,000 people returning ‘home’ to live. Applicants have come from all corners of the globe and to the 26 countiesin the Republic of Ireland. For the majority, their return was a positive lifelong dream and could not have been fulfilled without the intervention and support of Safe Home.
The most important message they would like to get across to anyone considering returning or moving to Ireland is to do your homework first and plan your move well in advance. This is particularly important if you have lived abroad for a long time or if you were not born in Ireland. ‘Coming home’ offers so many opportunities and can be a very exciting prospect for most returning emigrants, however there are also many challenges and barriers in returning so preparation is key. If ‘coming home’ is for you Safe Home Ireland will guide and inform you every step of the way, from your initial idea while living abroad to the final decision that you make.
Visit www.safehomeireland.com to find out more about the services offered by Safe Home Ireland.
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