Seatown House is an open access drop-in day centre with an informal, homely atmosphere. It tries to create an environment of sociality and a place where people who have nothing to do during the day can come to relax, meet others, make cups of tea, have a hot meal at lunch-time, use the telephone, have a shower, wash their clothes. There are recreational and short-term storage facilities available. Additional on-site access to IT facilities and phones is also available. Staff at Seatown House also provide support, advice & information, crisis intervention, advocacy and referral services to allow a more structured approach to the multiple needs of homeless people. Emergency clothes and sleeping bags are provided during cold weather periods.
Seatown House delivers one of the objectives of Dundalk Simon Community – to provide an important space for people simply to ‘be’ and ‘belong’ when they have no place to call their own. In doing this we are offering an environment where vulnerable people can drop the pretence so often adopted in other environments. This applies to homeless people, people who perceive themselves to be at risk of homelessness, people facing social isolation, and ex-service users. These are our client base.
Services provided through Seatown House are aimed at empowering people but also at encouraging them to take responsibility for various aspects of their lives. That is why staff are encouraged to be present, on the floor, mingling with service users, making them feel welcome and adding to an atmosphere of acceptance, a place of safety and practical care where they don’t feel as though they’re not the norm.