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Galway Simon Community this week launched its 2024 Annual Impact Report, highlighting the continuing demand for the charity’s Homeless Services during another very challenging year. In 2024 the organisation supported 1,869 people across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, while the total number of families supported increased by a staggering 38%. With Galway City having the highest ongoing need for social housing in the country, according to a report by the Parliamentary Budget Office, Galway Simon Community is deeply concerned about the deepening homelessness crisis. Launching Galway Simon’s 2024 Annual Impact Report, Eddie Mullins, CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland, spoke about how Galway Simon’s Annual Impact Report shines a light on the extraordinary commitment and compassion of the team in responding to the deepening homelessness crisis across the West. The scale of support provided to families, children and individuals is a powerful reminder of the difference that community-led organisations can make when faced with rising need. Together, such organisations are part of a national network working to prevent homelessness, tackle addiction, and help people rebuild their lives. 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 find themselves without somewhere to call home to leave homelessness behind. “Over 95% of those who engaged with Galway Simon’s Prevention Services during the year did not access Emergency Accommodation, while an average of 200 people were accommodated in Galway Simon’s own accommodation every night. In 2024, the charity supported 1,127 households, including 277 families with 579 children. The total number of people supported during the year increased by 25% on the previous year. The charity’s Health and Wellbeing Team supported 310 people, providing 7,217 interventions across nursing and GP, mental health, addiction and community detox supports. Carol Ms Baumann, CEO of Galway Simon Community, spoke of the deepening shortage of affordable homes across the Region. She welcomed the 692 social homes delivered across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in 2024. However, she also highlighted that demand continues to far outstrip supply with 8,988 households on the social housing waiting list or in HAP tenancies 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 Ms Baumann acknowledged the incredible support that was provided by the charity’s funders, donors and supporters in 2024 – without this support, Galway Simon could not continue to support people facing homelessness and living with 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 2024 Annual Impact Report launch, Ms Baumann 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 homes in the West in order to address this crisis; more importantly, to give people homes. 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”. “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 each person’s experience of homelessness is as short as possible, and that they have an opportunity to access other services to address any 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,” concluded Ms Baumann. To download Galway Simon Community’s 2024 Annual Impact Report, visit their website www.galwaysimon.ie/publications
