Mid West Simon calls on community to support food bank
In a bid to raise funds for those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary during Covid-19, Mid West Simon is calling on generosity of the local communities and donate what they can.
Due to restrictions, the charity’s usual calendar of fundraising activities has ground to a halt, while the demand for services has increased exponentially amid the pandemic.
Speaking of the call to action, Mid West Simon Board Member Liam Toland said: “The food bank in particular has come under immense pressure over the past two months. Before Covid-19, Mid-West Simon were providing regular provisions to 7,300 clients. Now, that figure is closer to 8,300. This has led to an unprecedented demand for Mid-West Simon’s services and we are trying as best we can to expand and adapt to meet the current level of need. Many of the 1,000 new families are finding themselves in food poverty for the first time as they or their partners have lost their jobs, while others are struggling to cope without the meal programmes provided by DEIS schools.”
Founded in 2006, Mid West Simon Community provides services to men, women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.
The organisation supported 8,000 people in 2019, offering individualised supports and plans tailored to each person they help.
Mid West Simon provides a range of services including:
Foodbank
Mid West Simon Foodbank operates throughout the Mid West, providing a listening ear in a warm, friendly, non-judgemental environment. In 2019 approximately 7,300 people across the Mid West region benefited from this programme.
Emergency Accommodation
MWSC provides two emergency accommodation hubs for people and families experiencing homelessness, providing housing specialists, nurses, counsellors and other health professionals on-site. Each family or individual has their own room en-suite, shower, communal laundry facilities and cooking space along with outside areas including play-area and gardens. 48 people and families, made up of 57 adults and 47 children, were resident in the Family Hub and Westbrook House STA services throughout 2019.
Housing First
MWSC operates a Housing First programme which helps people and families experiencing homelessness to attain and maintain their home, helping clients to develop the skills they need to keep their home. In 2019, Mid West Simon supported 26 people within Housing First. To date, 100% of all clients have maintained their tenancies. Housing First supports involve daily/bi weekly contact, supports around mental health and addiction issues particularly exploring and/or establishing detox engagement and support with legal issues.
Tenancy Sustainment
As a social landlord, Mid-West Simon provides 63 permanent housing units directly. Women accounted for 30% and children accounted for 40% of all people supported across Mid-West Simon's services in 2019.
MWSC make housing available in the private rented sector though contacts in the region and work closely with other social housing providers so as to make sure the most appropriate housing is available to suit people's individual needs. During 2019, 29 people were newly housed in long term housing.