Simon urges participants to take the challenge, raise funds – and make a difference

The Galway Simon Community has launched its annual Sleep Out for Simon – and this year the event is going hybrid!

The Sleep Out – set to take place on the night of Friday, September 30 – will see friends, families, colleagues, businesses and communities from Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and beyond, give up their bed for one night to raise awareness and vital funds for those facing homelessness in the West.

This year people have the choice to join one of Galway Simon’s organised Community Sleep Outs taking place across Galway city and county or to organise their own Sleep Out in a safe place of their choosing – here in the west or on the other side of the world.

Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community, explained why they are relying on the community to come together and raise funds for those living with the threat of homelessness.

“The fear and trauma of having nowhere to sleep is a stark reality for some, the families and individuals who we support continue to be under extreme pressure,” she said.

“We are asking for the help of our community so that we can continue delivering the support needed to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the threat of homelessness,” she added.

In 2021, Galway Simon Community supported 814 households, including 246 families. This comprised of 948 adults and 563 children, a total of 1,511 individuals – an increase of 26% in number of households supported in 2021 compared to 2020.

The number of cases and households worked with is the highest that on record since 2004.

Over the last two years, the Sleep Outs took place virtually due to Covid-19 and were the most diverse to date.

People partook from across the globe – from Moycullen, Westport, Castlerea, to as far as Shanghai – with participants from Montessori groups to sports clubs to businesses and enterprises of all sizes. The vital funds raised helped support more than 800 individuals and families across the West, a truly phenomenal achievement.

As the rising cost of living and housing crisis impacts on people in our community, your support will make a difference to those living in fear of losing their home. Galway Simon looks forward to welcoming your participation in this unique event on September 30, be it from your own back garden or by joining one of the Community Sleep Outs in Galway city and county.

This year the charity has set a target to raise €100,000 from the Sleep Out for Simon – and 100% of proceeds will go directly towards Galway Simon’s Homelessness Prevention Services including community support, youth, women and family services, ensuring the charity can safeguard these essential community services and support those in need.

A total of 641 households were supported through the Homelessness Prevention Services, an increase of 32%, while 173 households were supported through Simon’s Housing Services, an increase of 7%.

They have supported 28% more families than the same period in 2020 – and the number of 18-25-year-olds supported across Simon’s services increased by 25% in 2021 compared to 2020.

To register for the Sleep Out for Simon today, visit sleepoutforsimon.ie.