Sleeping outside on a cold, bitter night in November doesn’t sound like a very pleasant idea, but for some it’s not a choice, it’s a sad reality.
And this sad reality of the huge rise in homelessness in Ireland has prompted McElhinneys Staff into action.
Dedicated staff of the Ballybofey store have decided to participate in a Sleep Out outside the front doors of McElhinneys Department Store on Saturday the 10th of November.
The Sleep Out will be in aid of the North West Simon Community.
“It is normal to be distracted when something becomes an everyday sight but there’s nothing normal about homelessness. The homeless and housing crisis is not normal, it is not acceptable” – Simon Community.
Simon Communities across the country provide support and services to over 11,000 people and their families experiencing or at risk of homelessness every year.
The North-West Simon Community is a non-for-profit organisation working to prevent and address homelessness in counties Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal. This dedicated and compassionate charity provides care and support services to work with and prevent people from becoming homeless and enabling people to move to a place they can call home.
This amazing organisation relies on fundraising donations to continue their day-to-day activities and outreach services, which is why the staff have chosen this amazing charity to support.
Collette Ferguson of North West Simon Community said: “We believe that homelessness in Ireland can be ended. By an end to homelessness we mean no one will have to sleep rough because of a lack of appropriate services, no one will have to live in emergency accommodation for longer than is an emergency, and no one will become homeless due to a lack of services or inadequate housing provision.”
There is no one singular cause of homelessness, and therefore there is no one solution, however McElhinneys believe that by supporting the Simon Community, and other charitable organisation, that they can at least do their part to help.
If you would like to support the efforts of the McElhinneys Staff by making a donation on their fundraising page, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/sleepout-for-nw-simon-community.
