Galway Simon Community has issued a Homelessness Crisis Appeal as the homelessness crisis continues in the West. The charity has raised concerns as the number of people living in Emergency Accommodation across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon continues to rise across every age group.
In the past year the number of families in Emergency Accommodation in the West has increased by over nine per cent according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Galway Simon Community CEO Karen Golden said it is deeply worrying how this housing and homelessness crisis is impacting families across our Community.
“We’re very concerned that the trauma of homelessness will have a long- term impact on children, and that the current crisis is creating the circumstances whereby the physical and mental health of some of these children will be affected into their adulthood.
“Every day in our work we are seeing the destabilising impact that living in Emergency Accommodation has on families.
“We are also seeing an increase in the number of young adults, some of them leaving care, facing homelessness,” she said.
She added that over the past year the number of people aged 65+ living in Emergency Accommodation has risen by 25% here in the West. It is heart breaking to see the increasing number of older people coming into homelessness for the first time in their lives, and the stress that having nowhere to call home is having on people in their senior years.
“The shortage of housing for single person households is making it particularly challenging for individuals to access affordable accommodation.
“We’re facing a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges with housing delivery falling short of already too low targets, the severe lack of affordable rental properties within Housing Assistance Payment limits and the escalating costs in the private rental market, all exacerbating the housing crisis. This in turn means that the lives of more men, women and children within our community are being negatively impacted by the trauma of homelessness”.
The latest figures released by the Department showed that 645 people, including 117 families with 225 children, were recorded as living in Emergency Accommodation in the West of Ireland at the end of December.
With the housing crisis continuing and the weather conditions becoming more severe, the risks are growing. With continued support from the wider community across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, Galway Simon can continue to prevent homelessness and support those with nowhere to call home.
Launching their Homelessness Crisis Appeal Karen Golden said that at Galway Simon Community does all it can to provide support and accommodation services to those who turn to it for help in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
“But we can only be there for people thanks to the generous support of people here in the West. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help support people who are vulnerable to homelessness during this crisis.
“So, if you can, please send a gift today. Together, we can continue to show that the real strength of people here in the West is how we care and support one another – leaving no one behind. It was heartening to see that strength demonstrated in how local communities responded during the recent storm Éowyn.”
If you believe everyone should have a safe place to call home, please visit www.galwaysimon.ie or call 091 38 18 28 to give a life-changing gift today to Galway Simon Community.
