Galway Simon Community has launched its 2023 Annual Impact Report, highlighting the continuing demand for the charity’s Homeless Services during another very challenging year. In 2023 the organisation supported 1,490 individuals across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. With Galway City having the highest ongoing need for social housing in the country, according to the latest report by the Parliamentary Budget Office, Galway Simon Community is deeply concerned about the deepening homelessness crisis.
Launching Galway Simon’s 2023 Annual Impact Report, Dr Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, the Clinical Lead for Inclusion Health Services at St James’s Hospital, talked about the importance of having a dedicated team with different specialisms to support people with both high and complex needs, who are facing homelessness. She commended Galway Simon Community’s Housing Support, Health and Wellbeing Teams for their impactful work in combatting homelessness in the West of Ireland.
Dr Ní Cheallaigh noted the huge challenges that people with mental health and addiction issues can face in trying to access supports. She said that telling people they are making ‘bad choices’ is not the answer. A person centred, trauma informed approach is a more compassionate and effective way to provide supports, and it is evident that this is how the team in Galway Simon work every day. She concluded her remarks by thanking Galway Simon for the difference they make in the lives of people across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
Galway Simon Community’s Head of Client Services, Karen Feeney, said that the charity continues to focus on preventing homelessness whenever possible, and on supporting people who do find themselves without somewhere to call home to leave homelessness behind. In 2023, the charity supported 1,490 people in 980 households, including 1,075 adults and 415 children. Over 90% of those who engaged with Galway Simon’s Prevention Services during the year did not access Emergency Accommodation, while an average of 181 people were provided with shelter and accommodation every night. The charity’s Health and Wellbeing Team supported 313 people, providing 6,656 interventions across nursing and GP, mental health, addiction and community detox supports.
Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community, spoke of the deepening shortage of affordable homes across the Region. She welcomed the 535 social homes delivered across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in 2023. However, she also highlighted that demand continues to far outstrip supply with 4,211 households on the most recent social housing needs assessments in the region. As it becomes increasingly difficult to find a home, more people, many of whom would never have seen themselves accessing Homeless Services, are turning to Galway Simon for support.
During the launch Karen acknowledged the incredible support that was provided by the charity’s funders, donors and supporters in 2023 – without this support, Galway Simon could not continue to support people facing homelessness in the West. She also thanked all of the volunteers who made such an extraordinary contribution to Galway Simon Community’s work during the year and who are an integral part of the Community.
In closing out the 2023 Annual Impact Report launch, Karen again highlighted the scale of the deepening crisis, and said “we are calling again on the Government and the Local Authorities to increase the delivery of new social and affordable housing in the West in order to address the housing and homelessness crisis. We also need to see more one and two bed properties delivered to address the needs of smaller households - across the region 65% of households on the social housing waiting list are one adult households. Our frontline Services are anticipating an even further increase in homelessness over the coming months and there is deep concern among Galway Simon’s teams about the Winter ahead”.
Karen continued “Each person, each family coming to us for help has their own story. Galway Simon Community will continue to provide individual, holistic support to ensure that people’s experience of homelessness is as short as possible, and that they have an opportunity to access other Services to address underlying health and addiction issues. Through our Social Integration Services, we will also continue to support people to re-engage and to participate in social activities, to access training and employment, and to thrive in their Community.”
To download Galway Simon Community’s 2023 Annual Impact Report, visit their website www.galwaysimon.ie/publications
