Jane's Place Women’s Services at MQI
All of our services welcome women, however in 2019 we saw that the numbers of women coming through our door were not representative of the numbers we felt needed the services. After some research, it was clear that females often did not feel comfortable coming into spaces which were predominately used by men.
So, in 2022 Merchants Quay Ireland launched Jane’s Place, an all-female service that offers one-to-one and group support to women who are dealing with homelessness and addiction issues.
A safe, warm and welcoming environment that provides holistic, trauma informed services such as Wellbeing Groups, Self-Care Days and Psycho-educational health, to name but a few.
You can contact the team:
| Contact Details | Location |
Call 086 197 5117 or 086 107 8384 Or for queries email janesplace@mqi.ie | 28 Denzille Lane (off Holles Street) Dublin 2, DO2 KD36 |
Jane’s Place services include:
- One to One Keyworking
- GP and Nursing Service
- Counselling Service
- Mental Health Support
- Health and Wellbeing Groups
- Addiction Education/Stabilisation Groups
- Social Activities
This service also offers a program focusing on recovery and healing from trauma and offers art therapy, mindfulness, maintaining physical and mental wellbeing and understanding trauma.
MQI’s female services are fully inclusive of women of all backgrounds including LGBTQI+ women, migrant women, women in addiction and women involved in sex work.
We have an onsite Medical team who provide Women’s specific healthcare, including;
- Smear Tests
- Breast Checks
- S.T.I. and Blood Borne Virus Screening
- Wound Care (includes compression dressings, suture & staple removal)
- Contraception: Long-term & Emergency
- Management of chronic diseases e.g.: epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, COPD
- Vaccines
- Minor Injuries.
Take a Tour of Jane's Place
History of our first all-female service
In 2019, Merchants Quay Ireland and Dr Sarah Morton of UCD conducted research into the complex needs of women who are homeless and in addiction. This research showed that women are often unable or unwilling to access existing services. Higher rates of gender-based violence, sex work and coercive control among women can leave them too ashamed, stigmatised and afraid to seek the help they need.
International research shows that female-only spaces facilitate greater emotional and physical safety for women, especially those who have experienced trauma and abuse.
In response to these findings, MQI has introduced Jane’s Place, a gender-specific service for women who are homeless and/or in addiction in Dublin city centre. The service, staffed only by women, provides a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental environment in which women can access support.
Jane's Place Team
Susan
Service Co-ordinator
Hi, I’m Susan. I’ve been working in Jane’s Place since June 2023 when we were in a temporary building waiting for our forever home in Denzille Lane. I’m delighted we’ve moved now and I love the new building. I started working in homeless services in 2009 but my passion has always been working with addiction. I trained as an Addiction Counsellor after my Social Care Degree, and 8 years after graduating as an Addiction Counsellor, I went on to study Counselling & Psychotherapy. I’ve worked in homeless & addiction services for 15 years now and love the kindness, generosity and resilience I see everyday between women in Jane’s Place. Have a look at our video above- I hope you see something you might like, and please come and check it out for yourself. This is your safe space to heal, hope, and be you!
Orla
Project Worker
Hi, I’m Orla, I am a Project worker here in Jane’s Place since October 2024. I have worked in addiction/homeless services for over 6 years. I have a background as a holistic therapist, providing and promoting the practice of mindfulness and self-care to be included as part of your care plan. I also have experience as an outreach worker, providing crisis intervention supports to people on the street as well as individuals that experience difficulty attending services. My role here in Jane’s Place will be to provide client centred support using a trauma informed approach in developing individualised care plan’s, a wide range of supports, provide information and advocacy. I hope that each of you feel at home here at Jane’s place, a friendly face to talk to, a nonjudgmental ear to be heard and to feel like you have been treated with the upmost respect and compassion but most of all to feel that this is your safe space.
Alanna
Project Worker
Hi, my name is Alanna. I am a Project Worker here at Jane's Place. I’ve worked in homeless and addiction services over the course of 6 years. I have worked in both Ireland and Australia in Housing First Models and as a part of the outreach team in Melbourne. I attended all female services while working in Melbourne and saw there the importance of them and the security they hopefully give to women. I am proud to be a part of Jane’s Place here in Dublin. I believe in the need for a holistic approach and that every person's needs are different. I have run groups here in Jane’s Place to reconnect with your creativity and sense of self. How you can use creativity as a form of mindfulness. We aim for everyone here to feel safe, welcome and have a space to be yourself.
Patricia
Project Worker
Hi, I’m Patricia, I am a project worker here in Jane’s Place. I joined the team in September 2025, I started working within the services in 2022 helping to support those who were involved with criminality, addiction and homelessness. While working within the services I completed courses in social studies and addiction. I work from a person-centred support using a trauma informed approach with a nonjudgmental perspective with empathy and understanding. My role here in Jane’s Place is to provide support, information and advocacy while also to facilitate in groups. I hope you feel supported, comfortable, cared for and safe.
Samantha
Project Worker
Hi, I’m Samanta. I joined Jane’s Place in July 2025, and as soon as I learned about this project, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I studied Psychology and hold two master’s degrees: one in Psychosocial Intervention and another in Clinical Sexology. My work focuses on understanding how life experiences shape mental health and on supporting people in vulnerable situations, always considering both their personal story and their environment. I have five years of experience in the social sector. I have worked on addiction prevention projects in Spain and Argentina, as well as in social emergency settings with people experiencing homelessness and with refugees. My goal has always been to offer information, tools, and support so that each person can feel more confident when making decisions about their life. As a migrant woman, I understand what it means to start over, adapt to a new environment, or sometimes feel out of place. That is why I try to accompany people with empathy, respect, and cultural sensitivity. At Jane’s Place, we want you to feel that this is a safe space. I have seen how, when a woman finds a supportive environment, her strength and ability to rebuild herself can grow in remarkable ways. Your situation does not define who you are.
Rachel
Counsellor
My name is Rachel, and I have been working in my role as the Counsellor with Jane’s Place since August 2025. I hold a BSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. My work is trauma-informed and grounded in person-centred therapy. I incorporate elements of compassion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in my work. I am committed to providing a safe non-judgemental and supportive space where my clients can feel heard, respected and understood. I value compassion, empowerment, collaboration and respect for everyone’s autonomy and lived experience. I believe in working at a pace that feels right and safe for each individual client to help foster emotional safety. I am committed to supporting clients to build on their personal strengths and resilience. I really look forward to welcoming you to Jane’s Place.
