We're delighted to welcome Simon Communities Ireland to Jobs Expo 2015.
Who We Are And What We Do
The Simon Communities throughout Ireland provide the best possible care, accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Together, with people who are homeless, Simon tackles the root causes, promotes innovative responses and urges the government to fulfil their commitments.
Simon delivers support and service to over 5,000 individuals and families who experience - or are at risk of - homelessness on an annual basis.
The Simon Communities of Ireland is an affiliation of local Communities in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East.
At Simon, we listen to people who turn to us for help and do everything we can to support them to move out of homelessness into independent living. We strive to empower people to access, secure and retain a home of their own by reducing the reliance on short-term emergency accommodation and providing permanent supported housing for people to sustain a home in their local community. Moving people into supported housing produces life-enhancing and life-saving results and is more cost-effective in the long run.
History
The organisation was founded by a group of Trinity and UCD students in 1969, who began by providing much-needed soup and sandwiches to people who were sleeping rough in Dublin city centre. In the 40 years since then Simon has continued to grow responding to local needs as they arise.
Simon can now be found in every county in Ireland and continues to play an important role as it has always done in identifying new needs and in developing innovative and cost-effective ways of dealing with existing needs.
Simon provides a range of effective services throughout Ireland embracing a housing led approach these include:
- Housing provision, tenancy sustainment and settlement services, housing advice and information services helping people to make the move out of homelessness and working with households at risk;
- Specialist health and treatment services addressing some of the other issues that may be experienced which may have contributed to people becoming homeless in the first place or may be a consequence of their experience of homelessness;
- Emergency accommodation and support providing people with a place of welcome, warmth and safety; Soup runs and rough sleeper teams who are often the first point of contact for people sleeping rough.
Our Vision
Making home a reality
Our Mission
Empower people to access and retain a home, by providing housing, prevention and targeted interventions through advocacy and partnership
Our Values
Community - We provide those associated with Dublin Simon Community with a sense of involvement, inclusion and belonging
Respect & Empowerment - We are committed to showing respect to each other. Responsible conduct is expected from everybody in our community. We are also committed to creating an environment where volunteers, staff and those who use our services are empowered to improve their lives and that of their local communities
Excellence & Innovation - We provide services that are cost-effective, to best standards and we are constantly pioneering new and innovative ways of providing our services
Accountability & Integrity - We operate with transparency so that we are accountable for actions, individually and collectively. We are equitable and fair in all our dealings
Visit their website Simon Communities Ireland to find out more.