A CHARITY working with Donegal’s homeless has made an urgent appeal for help, saying their services are being required more and more in the county.
As the national crisis over homeless families reached the top of Government, the local branch of the Simon Community was keen to stress this isn’t just an issue affecting people in the big cities.
The group steps in to prevent dozens of families becoming homeless and is also supporting 42 individuals in Letterkenny alone.
It also deals with a crisis situation once every three days.
“The North West Simon Community in Donegal provides, ‘Supported Housing’ to 42 individuals in Letterkenny and provides, a ‘Tenancy Sustainment Service’ to families and individuals throughout Co Donegal,” said development officer Collette Ferguson.
“Homelessness has a stigma attached to it and unfortunately, in today’s challenging environment, many individuals and families throughout Ireland are finding themselves in this frightful situation.
“North West Simon Community works with people not only to address their immediate crisis but to try and have long term sustainable solutions for the individual and their family such as developing a routine, providing life-skills, accessing training and educational opportunities.”
Said Collette: “Our mission is prevent people from becoming homeless and campaign for each person’s right to a home and appropriate services to support this.
“More and more people in the North West are today turning to North West Simon Community for help and support. We prevent 100 people a year throughout the North West from becoming homeless.
“We are not in receipt of government funding to sustain our services, therefore; we rely heavily on funding from donations and fundraising.
“We’d be very grateful for any support we can get because right now we need it.”
If you would like to make a difference in your local community, by organising a fundraising event such as, a Coffee Morning, Fundraising Walk or by making a donation, please contact Collette direct on:
T: 074 9121613 M: 087 0552478
9 Riverfront House, Level 1
Pearse Road, Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
E: donegalfundraising@northwestsimon.ie
Charity No: 16939
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