NOVAS

What NOVAS does

NOVAS is an Irish registered charity (RCN 20041533, CHY 13390) and Approved Housing Body (AHB-02763), founded in Limerick in 2002 by Joe McGarry, which delivers an integrated portfolio of homelessness, social housing, and recovery services across Ireland. It operates 17+ named service locations spanning Limerick (national HQ at 87 O'Connell Street), Dublin, Clare, Kerry, Tipperary, and West Cork. Service lines include emergency homeless accommodation (including 66 women's beds nightly in Dublin), social housing tenancies through the AHB function, family services (Intensive Family Support since 2005), young-adult services (DIAL House opened 2007), dedicated disability services (Brother Russell House, Limerick — only such service in Ireland), Street Outreach 365 nights per year, tenancy sustainment, and health & recovery programmes including the TOPPLE/Circle peer-led overdose prevention programme (adopted nationally by the HSE in 2023) and community detox. In 2024, NOVAS supported approximately 6,300 people and delivered ~138,256 residential meals and ~32,000 outreach meals.

The business model is mission-driven rather than commercial: revenue is generated through four streams — statutory funding from Local Authorities, the HSE, TUSLA, and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive; public donations (monthly giving from €5, one-off, in-memory, and CHY3 tax-efficient gifts); corporate partnerships (food donations, Charity-of-the-Year, event sponsorship, payroll giving); and fundraising events (Christmas Sleep Out, marathons, community events). All client services are free of charge. GTM is referral-driven: clients reach NOVAS via statutory partners and local authority housing lists, with open-access walk-in and out-of-hours services (evenings 5–9pm, weekends 12–4pm). Donations are processed online through Stripe via Fundraise Up.

The technology stack is a standard NGO/charity build (Salesforce CRM, Microsoft Office & Cloud, Stripe/Fundraise Up for payments, Google Analytics, Usercentrics for consent) with no proprietary technology product. Operational differentiation comes from the Trauma Informed Practice framework (six principles: Safety; Trustworthiness & Transparency; Peer Support; Collaboration & Mutuality; Empowerment, Voice & Choice; Gender, Culture & History), co-developed with Dublin Homeless Network since 2018, and from the lived-experience-led design philosophy embedded since founding. Governance is by a 6-member Board of Directors and an 8-person Senior Leadership Team led by CEO Una Deasy.

Name

NOVAS

Legal name

NOVAS

Website

https://novas.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NOVAS is an Irish registered charity and Approved Housing Body, founded in Limerick in 2002, delivering emergency accommodation, social housing, family, youth, disability, health & recovery, and outreach services to ~6,300 people experiencing homelessness across six Irish counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Services & Social Housing

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Homeless accommodation services
• Social housing tenancies
• Addiction recovery support
• Trauma-informed care services
• Family homelessness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Limerick

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Statutory Funding / Government Grants: NOVAS receives core operational funding from statutory bodies including Local Authorities (Clare County Council, Cork County Council, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Kerry County Council, Limerick City and County Council), the Health Service Executive (HSE), and TUSLA. These funders commission services that NOVAS delivers under contract, providing a recurring and significant portion of revenue.
2. Public Donations: NOVAS raises funds directly from individual donors via its website (using Stripe via Fundraise Up), monthly giving programmes (as little as €5/month), in-memory donations, wedding favours, celebration donations, and tax-efficient giving (CHY3 scheme). Monthly donors and one-off contributions sustain frontline services.
3. Corporate Partnerships: NOVAS partners with businesses for corporate donations, food partnerships (Street Outreach food donations), Charity of the Year programmes, event sponsorship (e.g., Simply Rent sponsoring Christmas Sleep Out 2025), matching funds, payroll giving, and cause marketing. Recurring engagement with corporate partners.
4. Fundraising Events: NOVAS organises and participates in fundraising events including the Christmas Sleep Out (largest annual fundraiser), active challenges (marathons, step challenges), school fundraising, community events, raffles, and corporate events. Funds raised support frontline homeless services in the mid-west region.
5. Social Housing Rents: As an Approved Housing Body (AHB), NOVAS provides social housing to individuals and families on local authority housing lists. Tenants pay rent, and the model generates income through the National Social Housing Programme and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Tenancy sustainment is a core part of the housing model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

NOVAS is a registered charity and Approved Housing Body that delivers free, low-threshold homeless accommodation, social housing tenancies, street outreach, health and recovery services (addiction detox, grief counselling, TOPPLE/Circle peer-led overdose prevention), intensive family support, disability-specific accommodation, and tenancy sustainment services across Ireland. All services are delivered through a trauma-informed practice framework with a harm-reduction approach, funded by statutory bodies, public donations, corporate partners, and fundraising events.

Product overview

NOVAS operates as a charitable organisation and Approved Housing Body providing an integrated portfolio of homelessness, housing, and support services across Ireland. The offering comprises emergency homeless accommodation (including dedicated women's services, mixed-gender services, and long-term supported accommodation), social housing tenancies, and wraparound support services including Street Outreach (operating 365 days/year), Tenancy Sustainment, Health & Recovery services (TOPPLE/Circle overdose prevention programme, Mid-West Community Detox, Annie's women's addiction service, grief counselling, respite house), young adult services (DIAL House), family services (Intensive Family Support), and disability services (Brother Russell House and community-based support). The DIAL model is being rolled out through the Supported Housing for Youth (SHY) pilot. All services are delivered through trauma informed practice with a housing-first approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homeless Accommodation Services Emergency and long-term homeless accommodation for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness, delivered through dedicated female-only services (66 women across five Dublin services), mixed-gender accommodation in Limerick, Kerry, and Tipperary, and long-term supported accommodation for clients with enduring needs. Clients are referred via Local Authorities, HSE, TUSLA, and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive.
• DIAL House (Developing Independent Active Living) Six-unit residential service for care leavers aged 18-24 with learning disabilities and mental health issues at risk of becoming homeless, offering a two-year life-skills programme teaching independent living skills including cooking, cleaning, bill payment, and money management. The DIAL model is being rolled out through the Supported Housing for Youth (SHY) pilot.
• Intensive Family Support Service Flagship family service providing intensive support to families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, promoting independent living and enhancing life skills. Includes a family hub in Ennis providing emergency accommodation for five families.
• Disability Services Services, support, and housing for people experiencing homelessness with sensory, intellectual, or physical disabilities, including Brother Russell House (purpose-built campus with group apartments, Limerick, Best Homeless Project at ISCH Awards 2014), small group homes in Limerick, Clare, and Kerry, and community-based disability services.
• Street Outreach Seven nights a week, 365 days a year street outreach service in Limerick City providing hot meals, warm drinks, signposting, support, and social connection to people experiencing homelessness and marginalisation. Supported by over 50 volunteers. Approximately 25,000 meals distributed in 2024.
• Tenancy Sustainment Services Personalised care plans helping individuals and families maintain stable tenancies and quality housing, supporting life-skills development including budgeting, money management, household maintenance, community integration, and advocacy.
• TOPPLE / Circle Programme Peer-led skills development and education programme on overdose risk, prevention, and management. Empowers peer workers to promote overdose prevention and strengthen overdose response efforts within services and communities. Includes a five-week training course covering recognition of overdose signs, crisis response, and support for non-fatal overdose, with Naloxone administration formally integrated in 2023. Adopted as the national peer-led initiative by the HSE National Social Inclusion Office in 2023 and renamed Circle.
• Mid-West Community Detox Service Community-based detoxification service providing support for individuals seeking recovery from addiction, part of the Health and Recovery services delivered through trauma-informed practice.
• Annie's Service Dedicated drop-in and outreach service for women experiencing addiction, providing low-threshold, high-tolerance support with harm-reduction techniques.
• Social Housing Social housing tenancies for individuals and families exiting homelessness, supportive housing models for people with mental health, addiction, or health challenges, and collaboration with Local Authorities to deliver sustainable housing outcomes. Delivered as a registered Approved Housing Body (AHB-02763) under AHBRA Standards.
• Respite House Respite accommodation for loved ones of people in addiction, providing temporary relief and support for families and caregivers (located in Newport, Co. Tipperary).
• Out-of-Hours Service Evening and weekend emergency advice and information service operated by NOVAS staff for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, open each evening 5pm-9pm and weekends 12pm-4pm, available through the Limerick Homeless Action Team framework.
• Grief Counselling Professional grief counselling services for people experiencing homelessness and disenfranchised grief, delivered as part of the Health and Recovery service portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,300 people supported in the last year across all services
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core funder, strategic, minor, supporting and core.

• Clare County Councilcore funderOthersStatutory local authority providing funding to NOVAS for delivery of homeless services and housing in County Clare. Clare Family Hub and Clare Outreach services are funded through this partnership. NOVAS is also required to comply with Clare County Council's housing standards and commissioning requirements.
• Cork County Councilcore funderOthersStatutory local authority providing funding to NOVAS for delivery of tenancy sustainment and homelessness services in West Cork. Tenancy Sustainment West Cork service is based in Skibbereen and funded through this partnership.
• Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE)core funderOthersDRHE commissions and funds homeless services in the Dublin region. NOVAS receives funding from DRHE for five women's homeless accommodation services (66 women per night) and other Dublin-based services including Bellevue House, Rathgar, Rathmines, Whitestown, and Drumcondra services.
• Dublin City Councilcore funderOthersStatutory local authority providing housing and homelessness funding to NOVAS for Dublin-based services. As an Approved Housing Body, NOVAS partners with Dublin City Council for social housing allocations and housing supply.
• Fingal County Councilcore funderOthersStatutory local authority providing funding to NOVAS for homelessness and housing services in the Fingal (North Dublin) area, including Blanchardstown-based services.
• Kerry County Councilcore funderOthersStatutory local authority providing funding to NOVAS for homeless and disability services in County Kerry. Services funded include Arlington Lodge (Tralee) and Kerry Disabilities Services (Oakpark, Tralee), as well as Kerry Outreach.
• Health Service Executive (HSE)core funderOthersHSE is a major statutory funder of NOVAS health and recovery services, including community detox, grief counselling, health and wellbeing support, and the TOPPLE/Circle overdose prevention programme. The HSE National Social Inclusion Office adopted TOPPLE as the national peer-led initiative in 2023.
• Limerick City and County Councilcore funderOthersPrimary statutory local authority partner, especially significant given NOVAS origins in Limerick in 2002. Provides funding for homeless accommodation, outreach, family services, and housing. Established NOVAS's first family service in 2005 in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council and HSE Social Inclusion. Also provides out-of-hours homeless service referral.
• TUSLA — Child and Family Agencycore funderOthersTUSLA is a statutory funder of NOVAS services, particularly those relating to children and families. NOVAS operates family services including intensive family support and family hubs, which may receive TUSLA funding as part of the child and family services ecosystem.
• Dublin Homeless NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOVAS co-develops and co-delivers Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) training with Dublin Homeless Network. Since 2018, NOVAS has co-produced specialised TIP training for TIP Reps, service managers, and frontline staff. In 2026, NOVAS and Dublin Homeless Network plan to roll out TIP training to clients living in homeless accommodation.
• Simply RentminorOthersSimply Rent is the sponsor of the NOVAS Christmas Sleep Out 2025. As sponsor, Simply Rent provides financial or in-kind support for this flagship annual fundraising event, which is the largest single fundraising activity for NOVAS's frontline services in the mid-west region.
• Food Partner Businesses (Restaurants, Cafés, Supermarkets)supportingOthersFood partner businesses donate surplus food (hot dinners, sandwiches, sweet treats) to support the NOVAS Street Outreach service in Limerick. Approximately 50 hot dinners and 50 sandwich/wrap packs are needed each night. Partners must deliver food by 5:30pm to Brother Russell House or be available for pickup in Limerick City Centre between 6-6:30pm, and must follow HACCP food safety standards.
• Irish Coalition to End Youth HomelessnessstrategicOthersNOVAS is a member of the Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, a collective advocacy body working to end youth homelessness in Ireland. NOVAS's Senior Disabilities and Young Persons Manager sits on the Department of Housing's Early Intervention and Prevention Sub-Committee as part of the Youth Homeless Strategy.
• Irish Homeless Policy GroupstrategicOthersNOVAS is a member of the Irish Homeless Policy Group, a collective body that advocates for policy change to address homelessness in Ireland. Membership enables NOVAS to engage in collective bargaining and policy advocacy at national level.
• Dublin Homeless NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn addition to the TIP training partnership, NOVAS participates in Dublin Homeless Network as a member organisation, engaging in collective advocacy and service coordination for homelessness services in Dublin.
• FEANTSAstrategicOthersNOVAS is a member of FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless), a European-level platform that campaigns for inclusion and access for marginalised groups. Membership connects NOVAS to European homelessness policy and best practice.
• Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH)coreOthersNOVAS is an active member of the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), the umbrella body for Approved Housing Bodies and housing associations in Ireland. ICSH membership supports NOVAS's role as an AHB and its social housing delivery.
• The WheelcoreOthersNOVAS is an active member of The Wheel, the umbrella organisation for not-for-profit organisations in Ireland. The Wheel provides advocacy, support, and resources for charities and nonprofits.
• Charities Institute of IrelandcoreOthersNOVAS is an active member of the Charities Institute of Ireland and adheres to its guidelines of best practice for fundraising. The organisation honours donor intentions and collects and distributes fundraised monies in compliance with these standards.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Merchants Quay Ireland: National homelessness and addiction services charity in Ireland, operating residential services, harm reduction, and community detox. Direct peer on the addiction and harm-reduction service lines; NOVAS board member Mary O'Shea was previously Assistant Director at Merchants Quay Ireland.
• Respond! Housing Association: Approved Housing Body providing social and supportive housing across multiple regions in Ireland. Peer comparable on Approved Housing Body status, social housing delivery, and tenancy sustainment services for vulnerable populations including families and people with complex needs.
• Depaul Ireland: Irish charity working with people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion, operating emergency accommodation and outreach services. Direct peer with similar low-threshold, harm-reduction ethos and statutory/local authority funding streams.
• Clúid Housing: One of Ireland's largest Approved Housing Bodies providing social housing, supported housing, and tenancy sustainment. Peer comparable on AHB regulatory standing and social housing delivery through Local Authority partnerships.
• Peter McVerry Trust: Irish homelessness charity operating emergency accommodation, supported housing, and youth services, primarily in Dublin and the East. Comparable low-threshold, harm-reduction service philosophy and statutory funding model.
• Coolmine: Irish addiction recovery charity operating community detox, residential rehabilitation, and aftercare services. Direct peer on the Mid-West Community Detox and recovery service line, and explicitly named alongside NOVAS in client testimonials as part of the Limerick recovery ecosystem.
• Focus Ireland: Major Irish homelessness and housing charity providing prevention services, emergency accommodation, and long-term supported housing. Direct peer overlapping on family homelessness, young adult services, and statutory referral pathways with HSE and Local Authorities.
• Tuath Housing: Large national Approved Housing Body in Ireland providing social housing and supported housing. Peer comparable as AHB-registered housing provider delivering tenancy sustainment and social housing allocations through Local Authority referrals.
• Simon Communities of Ireland: Ireland's largest national homelessness charity providing emergency accommodation, housing, and prevention services across all26 counties. Direct peer with overlapping service lines (emergency accommodation, tenancy sustainment, advocacy) and statutory funding model, competing for the same DRHE and Local Authority commissioning.
• Threshold: National housing charity in Ireland focused on tenancy sustainment, rights advocacy, and housing supply. Direct peer on the tenancy sustainment service line and on social housing policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/novasireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novas-ireland

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NOVAS