The Midland Simon Community celebrated a major landmark last week with the publication of its annual report, which marks the successful completion of the group’s first three-year strategy in the Midlands. To date the Midlands Simon Community has received over 230 referrals, which represents over 500 people.
The Midlands Simon Community annual report was launched by Minister for Housing Michael Finneran in the Tullamore Court Hotel last Friday, November 21. Speaking at the launch, the Minister said, “We have set out in the National Homeless Strategy ambitious targets to end long term homelessness and the need to sleep rough by the end of 2010.” He also congratulated the work that has been carried out by Midlands Simon in providing long term solutions for homeless people.
One of the main successes for Midland Simon to date has been the establishment of the Regional Settlement Service which supports people to move out of homelessness and into a home of their own. Commenting on the launch of the annual report, CEO of the Midlands Simon Community, Tony O’Riordan, stated “By developing an innovative inter-agency model where all the agencies are working together we offer not just a temporary solution but a permanent end to homelessness by helping people to move into accommodation which becomes their long term home.”
With a 10 per cent increase in the demand for services in 2008, there is an increased challenge for fundraising. According to Mr O’Riordan, “We will present our case for additional funding to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and we will need at least a 10 per cent increase in funding to match the current demand on our services”.
The Midlands Simon Community also aims to have its new emergency service open in Athlone before Christmas. Mr O'Riordan stated that “without the support of the local authorities, the HSE, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government we would not have been able to provide this and other services.”
The Midlands Simon Community’s annual report outlines the achievements to date, and calls on the Government to continue to support organisations like Midlands Simon so that it can continue its work with a marginalised section of society. Mr O’Riordan added: “We have an approach that works in the Midlands, and we thank the Government for their support. We now see an increasing demand for our services and we need this support to continue to allow us to respond appropriately.”
