Derry councillors vow to help find ‘long-term solution’ for Foyle Haven as financial problems continue
By Ursula Duddy
Derry City and Strabane District Council have unanimously voted to work alongside ‘relevant’ agencies to find a ‘long-term, sustainable solution’ for Foyle Haven.
The Foyle Haven at John Street opened in 2001 and provides a lifeline for people with alcohol problems. However, it has experienced serious financial difficulties in the last couple of years since losing Big Lottery funding.
Presently, the centre is open 365 days a year from 9am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 11am-4pm at the weekends. The De Paul charity, which manages the Foyle Haven, says it costs £274,000 each year to run the Derry centre.
De Paul say they have secured funding from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Public Health Agency, Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Police Service for Northern Ireland, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Policing and Community Safety Partnership for the next year.
However, the charity said they are facing a shortfall of £84,875 if they want to maintain the current opening hours of the Foyle Haven.
If that money cannot be found, the charity say the opening hours will be reduced to 12 noon to 7.30pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 4pm on Saturdays and the centre would have to close on Sundays.
De Paul say that even if the reduced opening hours were introduced, they would be still be left with a deficit of £15,000 over the next year.
During a recent meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council the Head of Community and Wellbeing, Seamus Donaghy, gave an update saying that despite the ‘rescue package’ funded by various agencies over the next year, De Paul been unable to secure further funding to ensure ‘a sustainable service delivery model for 2017/2018 and beyond’ and said a review had been initiated by DePaul.
Mr Donaghy added that DePaul has ‘provided a number of service delivery options’.
He also said that council ‘is to consider opportunities for funding through the Police and Community Partnership (PCSP) Grant Aid Programme and officers were continuing to work with DePaul and the statutory partners in an attempt to secure a long-term, positive outcome’.
Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy said a petition had already been submitted to council by the trade union, UNISON.
She added: “It is disappointing that a solution hasn’t been found for funding for the Foyle Haven.
“I do firmly believe that that it provides a vital service that has saved many lives.”
Cllr Duffy also added that she was appreciative of the work the council had done over the years for Foyle Haven and she suggested that the newly elected Sinn Féin MP, Elisha McCallion, attend a meeting discussing the centre’s future.
SDLP Councillor Tina Gardiner said the UNISON petition had contained over 1,200 signatures and that the Foyle Haven, in May this year, were providing help for 400 people and distributing 500 meals and questioned who would continue this work if the centre closed. She also voiced concerns for the employees who faced an uncertain future.
She said that central funding had been provided for the centre in Belfast and that she believed ‘the second city should be given the same priority’.
Mr Donaghy continued that the Interagency group would like the service to continue and said ‘a request for trade union representation at meetings going forward would be considered’.