As demand for homeless services increases and funding cuts continue, this time of the year Midlands Simon Community needs your help more than ever.
Midlands Simon Community has launched an urgent appeal for donations to help supply the ever-increasing demand for their services in the lead-up to Christmas. The charity has been hit with funding cuts this year, but are facing increasing demand for the homeless services they provide in Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, and Laois.
The appeal will continue throughout the month of December, with fundraising events and publicising the stories of those helped by Midlands Simon Community.
Speaking about the Christmas appeal, Midlands Simon Community’s CEO, Tony O’Riordan, said: “Christmas is the time of the year when those in our society who have no place they can call home feel very lonely and isolated amid all the festivities and bright lights and the sounds of busy Christmas shoppers all around them.
“Only receiving 1.5 per cent of State funding for homeless services, continued funding cuts despite research proving we are cost efficient in the services we provide, and having a higher success rate than the national average, means this year has been a tough one, and isn’t getting any easier; and worst of all, it is those in dire need of a roof over their head and support who are being affected,” said Mr O’Riordan.
Midlands Simon Community’s staff and large band of volunteers have worked with over 100 people every day of 2013 so far, helping move people from living in a wheelie bin, abandoned car, or under a hedge into a home of their own, where they can get the support, care, and help they need to return to independent living one step at a time.
Times are getting tougher as Midlands Simon Community becomes more and more reliant on the generosity of the public to keep services open. To help Midlands Simon Community in their Christmas appeal you can make a donation online at midlandssimon.com, by calling (090 ) 6444641, or by post to Midlands Simon Community, PO Box 27, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
