As the homelessness crisis in Galway and across the West continues to intensify, 51 business leaders are this week preparing to spend a night on Shop Street to raise essential funds for COPE Galway’s Homeless Services.
Winter places additional pressure on people without a home, and COPE Galway is warning that demand for essential supports is rising sharply.
“Homelessness is affecting more people than ever before,” said Sinead Carey, Head of COPE Galway’s Homeless Services. “Our teams are stretched every day, working with people to meet basic human needs: food, sleeping bags, access to laundry facilities and a warm space. These are necessities, not luxuries, and the need for them has never been greater.”
On Friday, 5 December, 51 Galway Business Leaders will take part in the COPE Galway Business Leaders’ Sleep Out, spending 12 hours on Shop Street to highlight the deepening crisis and raise urgently needed funding.
In 2024, COPE Galway supported 1,337 people experiencing homelessness across Galway City and County — including 164 families with 351 children and 748 single adults. Supports ranged from emergency accommodation to community-based and family response services, with demand rising across all areas.
Business leaders stepping up
The COPE Galway Business Sleep Out began in 2012, and since then, hundreds of business leaders from all over Galway have collectively raised over €1.9 million for COPE Galway’s Homeless Services.
Padraic Hession, Managing Director PHE Engineering & Architecture, said this is his second year taking part in the Business Sleep Out.
“Knowing the very real help this fundraising provides is a major motivator. We constantly hear about homelessness in the news, but when you talk to front-line staff at COPE Galway and hear about people sleeping in their cars before going to work the next morning, it shows just how widespread the crisis has become. Trying to stop homelessness becoming hopelessness is something every one of us can act on.”
Maria Kelly, Community Growth & Partnership Development Lead at CREW said what strikes her most about homelessness is how quickly it can happen, and how it can happen to anyone.
“An illness, job loss, relationship breakdown or financial strain can turn someone’s life upside down. Homelessness isn’t a reflection of who someone is; it’s a reflection of the circumstances they’ve faced.”
“Our business community continues to step in each year to support people experiencing homelessness,” said Sharon Fitzpatrick, Head of Development at COPE Galway.
“The Business Leaders’ Sleep Out provides funding for practical and emotional supports that make a difference in people’s lives – warm clothing, nutritious food, homework clubs for children in emergency accommodation. These funds have been vital in ensuring that essential services are there when people need them most.
“Funds raised also strengthen our support for children whose development is being directly impacted by homelessness, helping them access play, learning and everyday experiences that every child is entitled to.”
Sinead Carey emphasised that many people in our community are experiencing significant challenges in their lives.
“Our homeless service teams are doing extraordinary work to keep people safe and help rebuild lives. With more resources, we can do more, and this flexible funding allows us to respond to needs quickly and effectively”
The COPE Galway Sleep Out highlights the simple reality that homelessness is not a peripheral issue. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds in our community – and the supports that ease its impact rely heavily on local action.
The public is encouraged to support the participating Business Leaders by donating at: copegalwaysleepout.ie
