Exchange House National Traveller Service Exchange House was

Exchange House National Traveller Service Exchange House was established in 1980 ¡ An Organisation of Travellers and settled people working together to provide frontline family support services, addiction services, youth work, educational services to the Traveller community ¡

FAMILY SUPPORT TEAM The team is made up of ¡Social workers ¡Family Support Workers ¡Addiction Counsellors ¡Suicide Prevention Workers

Stats for 2011 ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Duty – 642 Child welfare – 281 Child Protection – 294 Child care – 104 Mental health – 703 Physical Health – 660 Legal – 613 Social welfare - 460

Continued. . ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Domestic Violence – 940 Accommodation 614 Prison – 362 Court – 110 Habitual Residency – 28 Prostitution – 51 Institutional abuse – 45 Suicidal ideation – 369 Self harm - 237

To provide and facilitate services for clients in crisis and to provide essential family support services ¡ Crisis intervention ¡ Face to face front line service ¡ No waiting list ¡ Suicide intervention ¡ Outreach work ¡ Domestic Violence Response ¡ Prison Work

Continued… ¡ Court work ¡ Advocate on behalf of clients ¡ Group Work with men in Mountjoy Prison ¡ Addiction response ¡ Social Work & Addiction Clinic in Dochas ¡ Tenancy sustenance ¡ Parents Plus Programme ¡ Life Skills Programme

The Traveller Community l l l l l Not a Homogenous group Community Distinct Culture Nomadism Language Beliefs/ Values Way of Life Large extended families 40, 129 Travellers in Ireland with a further 15, 000 Irish Travellers living in the UK All Ireland Traveller Health Study 2010

Social Exclusion ¡ Extreme Social Disadvantage l l l l Poverty Racism Discrimination Poor accommodation Ill health Low levels of education Low levels of employment 84% All Ireland Traveller Health Study 2010

Culture & Nomadism ¡ ¡ Nomadism is often described as a state of mind. Even where Travellers occupy houses they regard accommodation as essentially temporary in nature - as do other nomadic peoples around the world. People are more connected to family than to places.

Culture & Nomadism ¡ ¡ More than travelling from A to B. Your whole outlook on life. Way of looking at the world. Past 30 years changes in society have transformed this feature of Traveller culture.

Morbidity & Mortality ¡ Poor health status. l l l Significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates. Life expectancy of a Traveller man being 15 years less than that of a settled man. The infant mortality rate for Travellers is 3. 5 times the rate of the general population. High rates of suicide. Suicide rates are 6 times the rate of the general population. All Ireland Health Study 2010

Impact of inadequate accommodation on Traveller mental health ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Conditions are poor so more health issues and stresses a vicious circle Travellers are feeling Forced into houses which don’t always meet their needs Cramped overcrowded conditions Nomadic ways have been taken away which leads to self esteem issues. Unsafe homes causing worry Feelings that services wont do anything or cant do anything Culture is not taken into account

Accommodation

My Home

The Traveller Community

What can be done ¡ ¡ ¡ Listen to the needs of Travellers Take culture into account Acknowledge that Travellers have different needs but the need for a home which is safe and secure which is basic human need Don’t exclude and discriminate against Travellers Make it more equal for Travellers to access suitable accommodation Implement Traveller accommodation plans

This is not who I am

My Home

Exchange House National Travellers Service 61 Great Strand St, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 8721094 info@exchangehouse. ie www. exchangehouse. ie