Simon Communities of Ireland
banner
simoncommunity.bsky.social
Simon Communities of Ireland
@simoncommunity.bsky.social
Working with people experiencing homelessness & housing insecurity.
Registered Charity Number: 20020125
Our latest Locked Out report shows that people on lower incomes simply cannot access affordable rental homes.

There was an alarming decrease of 25% in properties available within HAP limits & a 26% reduction in properties available to rent at any price 📉
October 23, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Tune in to the news this evening to hear our team's reaction to Budget 2026

📺 @virginmedianews.bsky.social 17:30
📻 @drivetime.bsky.social 17:30
📺 @news.rte.ie Nuacht 17:45
October 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Don't miss our on next week's webinar as Simon Talks Budget 2026!

We are thrilled to be joined by Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy, SVP.

Tune in to hear more about the impact of #Budget2026 from an NGO perspective.

🔗 us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Our Executive Director, Ber Grogan commented: “We are astounded to see the incomprehensible increase in child homelessness in just a month. How has this happened? The Government has serious questions to answer."
September 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
We are pleading with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to show that they care about ending homelessness.

Homelessness in Ireland has increased for the eighth consecutive month, with the latest figures showing that 16,353 people were living in emergency accommodation in August 2025.
September 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
To close Simon Week 2025, we have a panel of today's speakers and people with lived experience. Their stories add depth to our discussion that could not be achieved through statistics alone.

Thank you to everyone in attendence for the engaging questions!

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Carol Baumann, the new CEO Galway Simon discussed the impactful, life changing solutions being delivered by Galway Simon.

Solutions that are working!

Carol highlighted the growing need for purpose-built accommodation for those over the age of 65.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
To provide a local perspective, we are joined by Kieran Walsh, @uniofgalway.bsky.social

In platforming the voices impacted by homelessness and their sense of home, he has brought forward the people behind the statistics.

There is a story behind every number.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 26, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Today's first speaker @mkushel.bsky.social, University of California, discussed Ageing, Health, and Homelessness.

Margot's message was clear, homelessness is solvable!

Thank you to Margot for contributing your vast knowledge to our dicussion.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 26, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The final day of Simon Week 2025!

Today we are in NUIG for the last event of Simon Week 'Retiring into Homelessness'.

We are delighted to have speakers joining us from the USA and Galway, sharing their expertise on homelessness in over 65s.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
We are in Leinster House this morning, joined by local Simon Communities advocating for people impacted by homelessness 🏠

We will be in the AV Room from 11 with @mkushel.bsky.social and @orla-hegarty.bsky.social discussing the intersection of health and homelessness.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM
We are officially halfway through Simon Week 🎉

We had fantastic discussions in Cork and Limerick so far this week.

Thank you to the teams at Cork Simon Community and Mid West Simon Community, to all of the speakers who have shared their expertise, and everyone in attendance!
September 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Our second panel: External Perspectives in the Mid West, dove into the sevices and challenges in the region for families experiencing homelessness.

Appropriate funding of supports & services is the most efficient way to ensure continuity of care.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Thank you to Mary Harty, NFRC, for discussing how the community sector can collectively challenge the normalisation of Foodbanks

Poverty should never be normalised in any capacity. No family should be in the position to consistently rely on foodbanks.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Brian Hurley, Case Manager, MWS's Interventions Strategies Food Pilot Programme, shared the stark numbers representing the people accessing services through the Food Poverty Programme.

A cross-goverment approach is necessary to tackle the issue.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Our first panel: Internal Perspectives from Mid West Simon.

It cannot be understated how important it is to include people experiencing homelessness in conversations on solutions.
We are grateful to Mid West's client from the Family hub for sharing.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Today's keynote speaker, Amy Healy, shared her expert knowledge on food poverty and its links to homelessness.

These issues do not exist in a vaccum and cannot be resolved independently.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
We are in Limerick with Mid West Simon for the second day of Simon Week to discuss Food Poverty and Family Homelessness 🍽

Thank you to Willie O'Dea, @fiannafailparty.bsky.social, for opening our seminar!

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 23, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Thank you to Andy Phillips, Regional Executive Officer, HSE South West for closing out our first conference of Simon Week.

We are delighted to hear the HSE's commitment to support people experiencing homelessness in Cork and Kerry.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Maura Duggan, Consultant in Psychiatry, joined us to discuss the reality of health implications for people experiencing homelessness.

Fantastic to hear Maura's perspective after 23 years of experience in the sector!

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Thanks to Cathy Kelleher and Dr Fiona Riordan from @hrbireland.bsky.social for discussing the harrowing statistics regarding deaths and homelessness.

Every statistic represents a man or woman who was experiencing homelessness at the time of their death.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Thank you to Kerry Brennan, Director of Services at Cork Simon Community, for discussing Social Housing and the Exclusion Cycle. Particularly focusing on criminal convictions and mental health, and the importance of breaking the cycle.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
A detailed presentation from Lorcan Sirr, Senior Lecturer in Housing at TUD.

Fascinating to see the data and nuances to the problems and solutions regarding the Housing Crisis 🏘

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
"Being homeless should never mean being hopeless"

Liudmyla Bortok, Journalist with the Cork Independent, shared stories of people experiencing homelessness. It is vital that we keep these stories at the core of every piece of work we do.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Thank you to Sophie Johnston, Cork Simon Community, for sharing insights on Housing Supply and for platforming the voices of service users in Cork to show the real impact behind the data.

#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
September 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM