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 was 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 Well-being group, Self care days (hair and nails) and Psycho-educational health, to name but a few.
The 25th of November marks the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, igniting the start of a crucial movement: the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. At MQI, our dedication to aiding our female clients, many of whom have suffered violence, remains unwavering.
For more information visit 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence | UN Women – Headquarters
Jane's Place
Jane's Place services include :
- Tailored one-to-one assessment
- Case management
- Support with housing, addiction, community detox, housing, welfare, physical and mental health, domestic abuse issues
- Referrals, signposting and accompaniment to other services are also available.
This service also offers a health and wellbeing program focusing on recovery and healing from trauma and offering classes on yoga, 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.
| Contact Details | Location |
Service Co-ordinators : Susan Diffney 0861832349, Project Worker: Aggie Mullen 0862303328, Or for queries email janesplace@mqi.ie. | Dublin 2 |
In 2024 we look forward to having an onsite medical team to provide Women's specific healthcare, including;
- Blood
- S.T.I. screening
- Wound care (includes compression dressings, suture & staple removal)
- Contraception: long-term & emergency
- Management of chronic diseases e.g.: epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, COPD
- Ear syringing
- Vaccines
- Addiction support & safe injection advice
- Minor injuries.
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.