2022 has been yet another record breaking year for homeless figures. Over eleven thousand people were reported to be in emergency accommodation in October.
Thousands of people will spend Christmas in emergency accommodation, including more than 3,000 children.
In true Christmas spirit, a group of secondary school students decided they wanted to help!
The 39th annual Belvedere College Sleep-Out has broken its fundraising record on their last day sleeping out in the city.
Over 250 people took part in the yearly event, collecting much needed funds for for Focus Ireland, Peter McVerry trust and Home Again. This included teachers, senior students and past students, who slept on school grounds or outside the GPO on O'Connell Street.
To bring some holiday cheer to the long nights, the college's jazz band and orchestra performed carols on the street.
One of the students who took part, Tom O'Sullivan runs a barber from his house. While he normally cuts his friend's hair, this year he lent his skills to the Sleep Out. On Friday night Tom, his brother and their barber friends set up a make shift shop and began offering their services to the homeless of Dublin.
After three nights sleeping rough, the students raised an astounding 255 thousand euro.
Sixth year student and Sleep Out organiser Cian O'Byrne says he couldn't be happier with the outcome and looks forward to next year!
