An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | A MESSAGE FROM O.N.E. VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS INTRODUCTION The global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting each and every member of ONE and their families. Normal- ity has been removed from our daily lives and many of the things we took for granted are now no longer possible. Dur- ing this unprecedented and challenging time, ONE continues to fulfil its primary objective of supporting veterans of the Defence Forces. ONE has experienced challenging times in the past. It was formed in 1951 to address the legacy issues that remained in place following the large scale demobilisation after the emergency period of World War Two. This was a period of very high unemployment together with a lack of social hous- ing and veterans bore the brunt of those austere times. The trigger for the further evolution of ONE was the deaths of homeless veterans on the streets of our capital city in the recession of the late 1980s and early 1990s. This led to the establishment of our three hostels in Athlone, Letterkenny and Dublin which provide forty-nine single rooms for veter- ans who would otherwise be homeless. ONE has continued to evolve with its nationwide network of Branches and Veterans Support Centres, and the development of further hostels. OPERATIONS ONE continues to operate during the pandemic in line with Government and HSE guidelines and directions. Our hostels have always worked to the highest standard possible and it is those very standards that are enabling them to sustain the high quality of service that they continue to provide for our veterans. We owe all of our staff a deep debt of gratitude. ONE has played a central role in organising support to vet- erans through the initiative Veteran Support which is now in place across the country. If you are aware of a veteran, a family member, a neighbour or know of someone in your community who may be vulnerable or uses our services, please keep an eye on them in compliance with Government and HSE guidelines and directions. Contact details have been sent to all Branches. Board member Deirdre Carbery was able to arrange the distribution of fresh food to needy veterans and the wider community in the Dublin area. The food was received from Facebook and was distributed with the assistance of the Defence Forces. The aforementioned are just a sample of the value of ONE during these extraordinary times and our tenets of support and comradeship were never more necessary. COVID-19 Each and every member of ONE will face personal challenges during the pandemic. The health of you and your loved ones is paramount. Our organisation, in which our members are the vital component, will also be challenged. We can reason- ably expect • An increased requirement for accommodation in our veterans hostels. • An increased requirement for advice and support for veterans. • Implications for the staff of ONE in maintaining our Hos- tels and Head Office during the pandemic. • Challenges with state funding due to the potential real- location of funds to meet other COVID-19 related needs. • Similar to all charities, the inability to fundraise during the pandemic. CONCLUSION There is a natural inclination for organisations to stagnate or regress during and immediately after a crisis. We cannot allow this to happen. We will have challenges both person- ally and for our organisation, but supporting our veterans requires us to not only sustain ONE but to propel it forward in these demanding times. As the Greek philosopher Dem- ocritus said "Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm". Each and every member of ONE has a part to play and we can do this by • Supporting each other. • Strengthening our Branches. • Continuing to expand our network of Veteran Support Centres. • Maintaining our current Hostels and expanding our Hos- tel network, particularly in the south of the country. Mar fhocal scoir, ONE Head Office will continue to update Hostels, Branches, Area Councils and Board Members on HSE and Government directives during the crisis. All are remind- ed not to risk their or their families health, to act only within HSE protocols and to follow official guidelines and directions. We again acknowledge the magnificent work of our staff and volunteers and believe that the services of ONE are now more relevant than ever.

• Cover