An Post has launched Europe’s first fixed address service for the homeless.

The postal service said ‘Address Point’ will allow homeless people to receive mail relating to medical appointments and applications for schools or jobs.

It will also help them stay in touch with loved ones.

The “free, simple and secure post office-based service” will be available in every county in Ireland.

It generates a personal address based on a person’s choice of local post office – which then becomes their mail collection point.

A number of homeless charities were on hand to help An Post launch the new service this morning.

Derek McGuire, homeless Dublin tours and former homeless services user at the launch of the new Address Point Service at the GPO in Dublin, 05-04-2019. Image: Maxwell’s Photography

"Immediate impact"

Dubliner Derek McGuire, who has just moved into temporary accommodation after living on the streets, told Newstalk that having no postal address affected him in a range of ways.

“Not being able to receive social welfare payments; not being able to access GP medical care; not being able to apply for work, for jobs; not being able to register to vote; not being able to join a library,” he said. “They all had an immediate impact on me.”

He said the service will empower homeless people to “take matters into their own hands and be more independent within that.”

Right across the homelessness spectrum it is going to have a positive impact.”

Barrier

The national homeless and addiction charity Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) welcomed the initiative.

The charity’s homeless service coordinator Fiona McDonnell said the initiative will help “every single one” of the thousands of homeless people MQI supports every year.

“For our clients, not having a postal address can be a barrier to accessing employment, social welfare entitlements, and stable accommodation,” she said.

“Ultimately, it can deny people the chance to move beyond homelessness.

“It is Merchants Quay’s hope that Address Point will help to combat these issues and help rebuild the lives that homelessness has destroyed.”

Tara Mc Neill, Ireland footballer and former homeless services user at the launch of the new Address Point Service at the GPO in Dublin, 05-04-2019. Image: Maxwell’s Photography

An Post

Debbie Byrne Managing Director of An Post retail said the initiative aims to respect people’s privacy – and make their lives a little easier.

“We are keenly aware of the difficulties which can result from people not having a reliable, secure mailing address or letter collection point to access vital services we all take for granted and in looking for a job,” she said.

“As a major Irish company with world-class expertise and a deeply-connected, community-conscious body of staff, our purpose is to be a force for good, wherever we can.

“We have the expertise and the national reach to make a real difference,” she added.

Around 200 post offices will provide the service right around the country. If the homeless person moves to a new area, a new address will be generated.