In 2019, we were in the midst of the greatest housing crisis we have ever known.
As the private rental sector spiraled out of control and the gap between housing support limits and market rent prices was ever-widening, we called on our community to help us to extend the reach of our essential Homelessness Prevention Services by taking part in our fourth annual Sleep Out for Galway Simon.
As always, the response was both heart-warming and inspirational;
162 people in five locations across Galway City & County stepped up to the challenge and in doing so helped to raise an exceptional €89,725.03 – our most successful Sleep Out ever!
These funds went directly towards supporting the extension of our essential Homelessness Prevention Services.
This includes an outreach Community Support Team, a dedicated Youth Service, a specialist Women and Family Service, and a drop-in Resource Centre in East County Galway.
Through our 40 years’ experience of providing housing and support services, we have learned that early intervention is key to keeping people in their own homes. If we can prevent people from becoming homeless, the outcomes are much better in that the trauma of emergency accommodation is not experienced.
In the last two years alone, over 500 individuals and families facing homelessness in the West have been directly supported by funds raised through the Sleep Out…
- 251 Individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless in East County Galway were helped by funding the running costs of our Resource Centre in Ballinasloe as well as an additional part-time social worker post for this service.
- 15 new homes were fitted out allowing 25 people to leave homelessness behind them for good.
- 238 Individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness were provided with essential supports like electricity cost and basic household items in a time of need.
- 128 hours of vital counseling for 20 young adults aged 18-25 years were supported within our Youth Homeless Service.
This year, we urgently need your support!
You could help to make sure we can safeguard these essential services so that we can continue to be there for those who need our help in the challenging times ahead. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, our services were already stretched more than ever before. With an inevitable economic crisis looming, we are bracing ourselves for an even bigger increase in the demand over the coming months.
The Sleep Out is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is vital in keeping our Homeless Prevention Services running in the West of Ireland.
You could help protect these essential services by joining us on Friday 2nd October, for our first-ever Virtual Sleep Out.
Take the challenge, join the experience, make a difference!
