Support Safe Home Ireland

Safe Home Ireland (Safe Home) is non-profit national organisation with a global remit. They are based in county Mayo and were established in the year 2000 to facilitate the desire for elderly Irish emigrants living abroad, to return home to live in the area they grew up in. Over the years, the organisation has evolved from simply providing a housing option for older Irish born emigrants, to also now providing a range of other services including information and guidance to all emigrants living abroad. They provide outreach and advocacy support to those who return home regardless of age, circumstances or geographical relocation on return.

Emigration is an intrinsic part of Irish life and has directly and indirectly affected every family and community throughout Ireland. No country has been as affected by emigration over the past two centuries as has Ireland. Approximately 10 million people have emigrated from Ireland since 1,800 and current estimates indicate that there are up to 70 million people who claim Irish heritage worldwide

Since Safe Home Ireland’s inception in 2000, they have directly supported 2,237 (as at 1 November 2022) older Irish born people return ‘home’ to live and countless others via information, outreach and advisory service. Their applicants have come from all corners of the globe and to all 26 counties. For the majority, their return was a positive lifelong dream and could not have been fulfilled without the intervention and support of Safe Home Ireland.

The charity’s vision is to ensure that anyone considering returning or moving to Ireland is given every opportunity to make an informed decision.

Their Mission is to act as the link for Irish emigrants both at home and abroad by providing advice, information, guidance and supports for those seeking permanent repatriation, as well as those who chose to stay in their adopted country.

To apply for housing through Safe Home, applicants must be:
(a) Irish born emigrants living in another country
(b) Aged 57 years or older
(c) Capable of independent living
(d) Living in rented accommodation abroad and unable to provide accommodation for themselves, out of their own resources, on their return to Ireland.

See https://safehomeireland.com/ for the most up to date information.