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Home  FAQs
FAQs
- What do you do?
We are a cross community voluntary organisation providing a wide range of integrated services to single homeless people throughout Northern Ireland. We provide accommodation and support services including; opportunities for education and training, resettlement support and specialist accommodation for young homeless people. As a homeless organisation we seek to change the perceptions of homelessness and promote the awareness of homelessness in Northern Ireland.
- Who is SIMON?
The Simon Community gained it's name from the biblical 'Simon of Cyrene', who helped Jesus carry his cross to Calvary. The name was chosen as a representation of how the Simon Community was established, not only to give people a roof but also to help people carry the burden of their problems.
- What year did Simon Community open in Northern Ireland?
The Simon Community was established in Northern Ireland in 1971 following an article that appeared in a local newspaper on the number of people sleeping rough in Belfast. This article convinced the founder of the Simon movement, Anton Wallich-Clifford, to set up the first project at Howard Street South. Unfortunately this project was short-lived as it met much opposition from local residents following a newspaper article announcing it to be a home for "Ex-prisoners, alcoholics and psychiatric patients."
- How many people work for Simon Community Northern Ireland?
We currently have around 200 employees who work in the projects and services throughout Northern Ireland and in the central office in the areas of support functions to the organisation including: finance, human resources, fundraising, education and information.
- How can I help?
To find out more about supporting the work of Simon Community, please go to the What you can do section.
- Do you accept clothes and other donations?
We currently have five charity shops and we accept clothes, books, small household items, music CDs and the like. Collection can be arranged. The charity shops page gives more details on the locations of our shops.
- Where do you get funding?
Simon Community's funding comes from donations, legacies, charity shops, accommodation and support charges, voluntary income, investment and from grants from Charitable Trusts and organisations such as the Community Fund. The majority of funds come from accommodation and support charges from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Trusts for the provision of accommodation to homeless people.
- What percentage of the money goes towards administration costs?
In 2003 we spent 4.83% of funds on administration costs, 8.75% on fundraising and charity shops and 86.40% on accommodation and support for residents.
- How long can people stay at the Simon Community?
The length of stay ranges from 1-2 days through to 2 years, with an average stay of 27 weeks. During their stay project staff help individuals work through the reasons for becoming homeless and when they are ready, help them move to a place of their own. Staff continue to offer support for as long as is needed.
- How do I volunteer?
If you would like to volunteer, please complete the expression of interest form and return it to: Human Resources, 57 Fitzroy Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1HT; E-mail: hr@simoncommunity.org.
- How much money does it cost to stay in a hostel?
Residents may have to pay rent for their accommodation depending on their earnings. They may be entitled to Housing Benefit, which we help them apply for. Project staff will advise each individual of how much they may need to pay.
- How can I get into a hostel?
If you are homeless or know someone who is homeless you can contact one of our direct access projects.
- What type of accommodation do you have?
We have emergency accommodation which people can contact directly. Staff supervise these projects at all times and there are single bedrooms with shared facilities such as laundry facilities, bathrooms, kitchens and lounges.
From the emergency accommodation residents when ready, can move on to self-contained flats which may be on the same site as the direct access hostel or in a different location. They continue to have the support of the staff but no longer need it on a 24-hour basis.
- Where do you have accommodation?
We have projects in Belfast (Cavehill Road, Saintfield Road, Falls Road, Cliftonpark Avenue, Antrim Road, Malone Road) Lisburn, Larne, Derry, Coleraine, Downpatrick, Bangor and Newry.
- If you don't take someone where do they go?
If there is no room in the hostel of their choice, we will try to place them in another hostel until a bed becomes available or contact other organisations that may be able to accommodate them.
- Do you take asylum seekers?
The Simon Community accommodates those awarded asylum seekers status in Northern Ireland if they are homeless, single and aged between 17 and 65 years of age. We cannot accommodate people while their application for asylum is being assessed, as the Government contracts with specific accommodation providers during the assessment process.
- What do the staff do?
We have full-time staff and volunteers in our projects. We have designated staff in the areas of mental health, addictions, women's issues, young people, training, employment and housing. Each resident has a link worker to develop a work plan to deal with the reasons for homelessness. In our central office we have staff in the areas of finance, human resources, fundraising, information and education.
- What does it mean to be homeless?
Being homeless means having no permanent home, sleeping rough or staying in temporary accommodation such as a Bed & Breakfast, squat or staying with friends or relatives. You are also considered homeless if you are likely to become homeless within 28 days or facing eviction.
- How many homeless people are there in Northern Ireland?
Last year a total of 17,150 households in Northern Ireland presented as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, an increase of 4%. more information »
- What is the main cause of homelessness?
The main cause of homelessness in Northern Ireland is family and relationship breakdown, which represents over 40% of people who are homeless. This is followed by loss of tied/ rented accommodation, having no Northern Ireland accommodation and accommodation not reasonable. Other reasons include: intimidation, leaving care, failed tenancy and leaving prison or hospital.
- What are the age ranges of homeless people?
3,375 single young people aged 16 - 25 years of age presented as homeless in Northern Ireland last year. Almost 55% of presenters to Simon Community Northern Ireland last year were aged 25 and under. 24% of people who approached Simon Community in need of emergency accommodation were aged between 26 and 39 years of age and 18% were 40 years of age and older.
- Should I give money to people in the street?
The issue of giving money to people on the streets is an individual choice. Sometimes we are not always in the position to give money but what we can give is respect.
- Why don't they just go home?
The most common reason for homelessness in Northern Ireland is family conflict and relationship breakdown. For many people, home is the last place they can go and some find becoming homeless is the only option they have.
- Why don't they just get a job and a flat?
It is not always easy for people whose lives are in crisis to get on with life. Often they need support in dealing with their problems, as it becomes difficult to break the cycle of homelessness. No job, no home and often no experience or qualifications leads to no hope and without positive intervention the cycle of homelessness continues.
- Why are there so many homeless in Northern Ireland when there are so many empty flats?
Homelessness is not caused by a lack of accommodation but by other issues affecting the individual person, such as health and family difficulties which can send people into a downward cycle were accommodation also becomes an issue. There is however a need for more affordable and accessible accommodation available in the areas people actually want to live.
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