As part of Simon Week 2025, Galway Simon Community is to host a conference on homelessness among older people.
The event on tomorrow Friday, September 26 will run from 10 am to 1 pm in the Aula Maxima in the University of Galway.
Titled “Retiring into Homelessness – Challenges and Solutions” the conference will focus on effective responses to homelessness among older people, bringing together local, international and client perspectives to share insights and explore practical solutions.
The keynote speaker will be Margot Kushel, Professor of Medicine at University of California San Francisco, Division Chief of the Division of Health Equity and Society, and Director of UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative.
Also speaking at the event will be Kieran Walsh, Professor of Ageing & Public Policy in the Discipline of Economics, and Director of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG ), within the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, at the University of Galway; Carol Bauman, CEO Galway Simon Community and older people supported by Galway Simon speaking on their lived experience of homelessness.
According to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people aged 65+ in Emergency Accommodation in the West increased by 33% in the past year and has increased by over 200% in past three years.
In 2024 Galway Simon supported 72 older adult households through its Prevention and Housing Services, an increase of 36 pr cent on the previous year.
Speaking about the conference, Carol Baumann, CEO, Galway Simon said they are delighted to be hosting a conference on such an important topic and are very pleased to be joined by some of the leading experts in the area.
“Homelessness among older adults is one of the fastest growing cohorts both locally and nationally, and it is critical that we put in place responses to the crisis that will prevent older people from accessing Emergency Accommodation.
“We know from our own work with clients that if we can divert people away from Emergency Accommodation the long-term outcomes for them are much more positive.”
Attendance at the conference is free but please register in advance at: Eventbrite.ie/Conference
