Simon Communities of Ireland

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chair, Mick Price. The SCI team are incredibly grateful for the work Mick has done with us over the years, and wish him the best in his future endeavours!

Johnny O'Rourke, Ber Grogan and Mick Price all smile to the camera. The photo was taken at the Annual Report Launch 2024, they all hold reports in their hands.

We would like to welcome the new chair of our board, Johnny O'Rourke!

Johnny is a seasoned governance and strategic expert with over 17 years of operational experience in the human services sector.

We are thrilled to welcome him to the team!

This event is being held in collaboration with Galway Simon Community.

The silhouettes of pots, pans, teacup and a teapot against a yellow background. There is an image of an older person drinking tea within the silhouette of the teapot. Graphic reads: Older Adult Homelessness in Ireland, 19th January 2026. Aula Maxima, University of Galway.

In January SCI are launching a new report highlighting Older Adult Homelessness📄

We are thrilled to be joined by @president.ie to launch the report and to have lived experience experts sharing their perspectives on older adult homelessness

Register 👇
www.eventbrite.ie/e/1977507780...

Hugh Wallace stands in the centre front of the photo, framed by 4 others including SCI's former Chairperson, Mick Price, and SCI's former Executive Director, Wayne Stanley. All 5 are holding pieces of art.

Close up of Hugh Wallace holding a piece of art to the right of his face while he smiles.

We are very saddened to hear of Hugh Wallace's passing over the weekend.

Hugh kindly supported SCI previously to launch our Art of Home campaign in 2021 to raise funds for our work.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam 💛

Full press release available on our website 👇
www.simon.ie/press-releas...

It's time we started to see rising numbers go the other way, and the only way that can happen is if the Government acts now on the Housing Plan.

Implementation must be informed by people with lived experience of homelessness so that policies and supports truly reflect the realities.

7,278 single adults will spend Christmas alone, with no place to call home and nowhere to go and the number of children being forced to experience the trauma of homelessness is now a staggering 5,274.

Black and white photo of a concerned woman in the background with a yellow boarder and text. Reads 16,766 people in emergency homeless accommodation, October 2025.

16,766 men, women, & children were living in emergency accommodation in October according to the Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Human beings deserve better than this. It’s shocking that so many people will go without this basic security at a time meant for joy & family.
#SpéirGorm

YouTube video by Simon Communities of Ireland Approaching The One Year Mark: MQI's Medically Supervised Injecting Facility

Didn't make #SimonTalks last week?

Our full discussion with Eddie Mullins has been uploaded to our YouTube channel!

Catch up on our discussion on the impact of MQI's Medically Supervised Injection Facility as they approach their first anniversary 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmfE...

Our work is only possible because of the generosity of our donors, we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported SCI in our efforts to tackle homelessness in Ireland 💛

Thank you to Minister James Browne for opening our Annual Report Launch event in Buswells yesterday morning, and to our speakers Nuala Ward, Ombudsman for Children's Office, and Tanya Ward, Children's Rights Alliance, for highlighting & amplifying the day-to-day impact of homelessness on children.

Annual Reports - Simon Communities in Ireland The Simon Communities of Ireland Annual Reports are an account of the campaigning and policy work of the Simon Communities of Ireland, and also spotlight the services provided by the independent Simon...

We have published our 2024 Annual Report 🎉

This report details key insights from SCI’s work throughout the year while calling for renewed government leadership and systems change.

🔗: www.simon.ie/annual-repor...

Simon Communities of Ireland 2024 Annual Report Launch Launch of Simon Communities of Ireland 2024 Annual Report – insights, impact & action on homelessness.

We are launching our 2024 Annual Report tomorrow morning with Minister James Browne!

Join us as we highlight the impact of homelessness on children with Nuala Ward, Ombudsman for Children, and Tanya Ward, Children's Rights Alliance.

Register now 👇
www.eventbrite.ie/e/simon-comm...

Polling stations will be open until 10pm tonight 🗳️

All you need to bring with you is a valid form of ID 🪪

Your vote matters, don’t miss the opportunity to have an impact!

#SpéirGhorm
www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/

We welcome news that a review into HAP has commenced, but without an immediate uplift in line with market rents, the Private Rental Sector will continue to be a key driver of people being forced into homelessness 🏠

🔗: www.simon.ie/e-publicatio...

Our latest Locked Out report shows that people on lower incomes simply cannot access affordable rental homes.

There was an alarming decrease of 25% in properties available within HAP limits & a 26% reduction in properties available to rent at any price 📉

It's National Lived Experience Day!

SCI strive to keep people with lived experience at the centre of our work.

We believe it is crucial that these perspectives are the core focus of our policy, research and advocacy, as it would be impossible to create impactful change otherwise.

How did the Irish community and voluntary sector fare in Budget 2026?

SCI's Executive Director, Ber Grogan, will feature on @thewheelireland.bsky.social's webinar tomorrow to share reflections and analysis of Budget 2026.

Register your place 👇
www.wheel.ie/training/202...

YouTube video by Simon Communities of Ireland Budget 2026: Post Budget Analysis

Couldn't make our Simon Talks webinar?

Our full discussion on Budget 2026 with Louise Bayliss has been uploaded to Youtube 👇
youtu.be/9RsHPtMpGjw

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...

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

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

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

We urgently need a clear commitment to increasing homeless prevention funding to prevent people from entering homelessness in the first place.

🧵4/6

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

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

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

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

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...