Charity helps 1,100 families secure a home 

Actors and dancers took part in a bucket collection for Focus Ireland in Dublin city centre last week. From left: Paul Byrom with his dog Bradley, Joe Conlon, actor Johnny Ward, and dancer Don King. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Focus Ireland has helped more than 1,100 households to secure a home over the past year and has launched a Christmas appeal to help keep families safe during the ongoing pandemic.

The charity said 940 of those homes had been secured since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, often in partnership with the State or other organisations.