Press Release
Merchants Quay Ireland kicks off brand new podcast ‘Tea with Merchants Quay’ with discussion on its new women’s service ‘Jane’s Place’
Merchants Quay Ireland, the national homeless and addiction charity, have today launched a brand new podcast which seeks to highlight the work being done by the organisation on the front lines of Ireland’s homeless and addiction crises.
To mark the end of Women’s History Month, episode one, which is available to stream now, features MQI CEO Paula Byrne and MQI’s Female Services Coordinator Eleanor Butler, discussing MQI’s newly introduced women’s service Jane’s Place.
Research conducted in 2019 by MQI and Dr. Sarah Morton of UCD showed that women in homelessness and addiction are often unable or unwilling to access existing services. Higher rates of gender-based violence, sex work and coercive control among this cohort of women can leave them too ashamed, stigmatised and afraid to seek the help they need. International research also 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 have introduced Jane’s Place, a gender-specific wellbeing for women who are in homelessness and/or 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.
Services include tailored one to one assessment, case management, support with housing, addiction, community detox, housing, welfare, physical and mental health and domestic abuse issues, as well as referrals, signposting and accompaniment to other services.
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.
The podcast is the first of four episodes planned for this year, with the next episode due in June. The charity hopes Tea with Merchants Quay will shed light on the everyday realities of its clients, as well as showcasing the incredible work being done by staff to support those who rely on MQI’s services.
Episode 1 is available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Merchants Quay Ireland would like to thank Andy Gaffney for his support in producing Tea with Merchants Quay.
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Notes to the editor:
About Merchants Quay Ireland
Merchants Quay Ireland is the national charity working with people who are homeless and in addiction. The organisation provides services ranging from open access crisis intervention and health promotion services to day-support programmes, residential treatment, detox, and prison counselling.
Further information on MQI’s women’s services is available here.
For more information, please contact:
Laura McDowell
Communications Officer
086 779 3206
communications@mqi.ie
