Thomas’ Story
“I was ten years old when I left my parents’ house. By the age of thirteen, I began using drugs and got diagnosed with HIV when I was only fifteen years old. I was in and out of treatment for a few years, but nothing seemed to work. I eventually became homeless, sleeping rough on the streets. With no home to go to, I never felt safe.
After decades in addiction, I was referred to Dublin Simon’s Respite Unit and my life started to change for the better. My physical and mental health improved greatly because my medication was administered consistently, and the staff guided me and treated me with respect. I also participated in activities that helped my recovery, including meditation and physical training, which helped me build a more positive mentality. From there, I was transferred to Dublin Simon’s Detox Unit, where I started to have structure and routine.
Eventually, I got referred to participate in Dublin Simon’s Recovery Programme at Ellen Hall. I was then transferred to the new Usher’s Island facility. Moving to this new facility has positively impacted my recovery. Dublin Simon helped me realise that I can have a healthier and brighter future. I now have hope of going back to education and re-uniting with my family.
Stories like this are only possible because of you. Your generosity provides more than just a roof—it restores dignity, health, and hope. On behalf of our residents, clients, volunteers, and staff thank you for standing with Dublin Simon Community.
Our impact this winter
This winter, as harsh weather conditions swept across our country, the most vulnerable faced unimaginable challenges. Storms and freezing temperatures made life on the streets even more dangerous for those without a place to call home.
Your support truly saves lives. By funding these vital services, you helped bring people in from the cold, provided critical medical care, and gave hope to those who needed it most.
Our Outreach team worked tirelessly, responding to double the number of Rough Sleeper Alerts in January compared to December, and successfully referred 3 out of 4 individuals they encountered to emergency accommodation
Thank you again for thinking of the most vulnerable in our society during the harshest months of the year
We continue to call for greater investment in housing, health services, and prevention. As the new Government sets its priorities, we urge you to join us in advocating for those most in need.
Emergency Figures 2024 vs 2023
Homelessness remains at record levels, with over 15,000 people in emergency accommodation nationwide and almost 11,000 in Dublin alone. The graph shows a steady rise in 2024, peaking in November before a slight December dip, likely seasonal.
Overall, numbers remain significantly higher than last year, and they do not account for rough sleepers, asylum seekers, those in domestic violence shelters, or the hidden homeless.
Help us support those in need
Sing for Simon Concert with RTÉ Orchestra
Take a look at some of the highlights from our very first Sing for Simon Concert in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the Helix.
We are delighted to say the evening was a huge success and are sincerely grateful to our wonderful community coming together to pull off such a special show. Thank you again to the RTÉ Concert Orchestra who made this event possible.
Get Involved
We can help you with your CSR and ESG goals with volunteering opportunities at our warehouse and shop, scavenger hunts to create care packs for our clients,
events or Return Deposit scheme. We’re happy to assist you with employee engagement and provide comms to get the momentum going for 2025! Corporate workplace fundraising fosters empathy, teamwork, and social good. With the right approach, you can create a powerful, ongoing impact within your company and in your community. If your team or organisation is interested in partnering with us this year, please get in touch via email at partnerships@dubsimon.ie
We want to hear from you!
We want to make sure that you are getting the most out of these updates, so we have prepared a short survey to get a better idea of what you would hear about.