Homeless crisis campaign drive with TV3 weatherman Martin King video by Simon Community

THE Simon Community has launched 'Simon Week 2015' with a video by TV3 weather presenter Martin King and a social media lobby of politicians to put pressure on the Fine Gael/Labour Government and all Oireachtas members for concerted action on homelessness and housing.

Simon says:

“Every day men, women and children have no place to call home. Thousands live in emergency accommodation nationwide and many hundreds more sleep rough or rely on the kindness of family and friends. We need to act now to ensure people who are homeless and those at risk have a roof over their heads.

“We need to change this grim forecast for the better.

“The Simon Communities across Ireland are dealing with the realities of the homeless and housing crisis every day. We work with more than 6,000 people a year, including those who are homeless or on the very edge of homelessness. It is possible to end this crisis and the solutions that work include:

“Prevention and intervention for every person at risk of losing their home or losing the roof over their head.”

Simon is seeking:

● Rapid rehousing using a Housing First approach

● Provision of affordable housing and priority for people who are homeless.

● Once housed people must get the supports they need to remain in their homes.

Simon adds:

“We urgently need to change the forecast for the better. We need to act now to support people to move out of homelessness and prevent many more people from losing the roof over their heads in the future.

“To achieve this we need significant and urgent Government action. We can only do this by speaking with many voices. Your voices."

You can see the video and send a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and Tánaiste Joan Burton TD asking them to bring the homeless and housing crisis to the top of the Government's agenda through this link.

“Unless urgent, ambitious action is taken now, the outlook for people who are homeless in Ireland will remain bleak,” Simon says.

“Please help us change the forecast for the better and show your support this Simon Week 2015.”