Simon Communities of Ireland
@simoncommunity.bsky.social
120 followers 120 following 130 posts
Working with people experiencing homelessness & housing insecurity. Registered Charity Number: 20020125
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simoncommunity.bsky.social
The Simon Communities of Ireland are officially on Bluesky!

Join us as we campaign for more effective policies & legislation from a national and European level 🌍

Learn more about our work: www.simon.ie

Need Help? Find your local Simon Community here: www.simon.ie/get-help
Ending Homelesness in Ireland - Simon Communities in Ireland
Working to bring about an end to homelessness in Ireland.
www.simon.ie
Reposted by Simon Communities of Ireland
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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...
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
The measures announced today will do nothing to reduce the numbers of people being forced to experience the trauma of homelessness unless developers and landlords are obligated to provide social homes and those affordable under HAP.

🧵 6/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
It's disappointing to hear the Government talk about running surpluses whilst the number of people being forced into homelessness grows. 5,000+ children are living in homelessness & are being robbed of their childhoods. This is not just an economic issue - but a moral one.

🧵5/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
We urgently need a clear commitment to increasing homeless prevention funding to prevent people from entering homelessness in the first place.

🧵4/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
It is deeply disappointing that, yet again, that there was no mention of homeless prevention and homelessness remains invisible within the Budget, and also, in the ever-present conversation around housing.

🧵3/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
While the SCI welcomes progress, we want to see clear and measurable commitments to delivering affordable homes, alongside stronger protections for those at risk of homelessness. We also welcome social protection increases.

🧵 2/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
While it’s refreshing to hear that housing has been at the forefront of Government’s minds, #Budget2026 seems to be focused on landlords and developers, with many measures being announced to encourage housing construction.

🧵1/6
simoncommunity.bsky.social
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to vote!

Tomorrow is the voter registration deadline for the Presidential Election.

You can also update your details (e.g. change of address) online.

It takes two minutes to check that your details are up to date!
www.checktheregister.ie
Check the Register
www.checktheregister.ie
simoncommunity.bsky.social
Budget 2026 will be released tomorrow! Join us for our Post Budget Analysis from an NGO perspective on Wednesday.

We will be in discussion with Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy at SVP.

Tune in at 2pm on Wednesday 8th of October!
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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...
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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...
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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."
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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.
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
Simon Week 2025 is proudly supported by Cash & Carry Kitchens
#SimonWeek2025 #SimonCares
simoncommunity.bsky.social
The week has only just begun!

Tomorrow we will be Leinster House engaging with TDs and Senators on the impacts and solutions to homelessness.

There is still time to register for our event in Galway, Retiring into Homelessness 👇
www.eventbrite.ie/e/1547369767...
Retiring into Homelessness: Challenges and Solutions
Join us as we discuss the challenges and solutions faced by individuals retiring into homelessness in our community.
www.eventbrite.ie
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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!
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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
simoncommunity.bsky.social
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