Galway Simon Community helped over 1,700 people last year

Annual report focuses on homelessness

PEOPLE experiencing homelessness in Galway are also facing poor physical and mental health along with trauma and social isolation.

This is according to the annual impact report launched by Galway Simon Community, which showed that the charity supported a total of 1,732 people in 2025, made up of 1,277 adults and 455 children.

The organisation’s Health and Wellbeing Service supported 623 individuals with mental health and addiction issues, chronic illness and trauma recovery, according to the report. Their Homeless Prevention Services also supported 638 households who were at risk of homelessness.

The annual impact report focuses on the Galway Simon Community’s expanding Health and Wellbeing and Social Integration Services as homelessness reaches a record level in Ireland. The report also highlights that the demand for health-led interventions more than doubled last, reflecting a growing complexity of cases.

With more people than ever relying on emergency accommodation, Galway Simon Community has warned that the crisis cannot be solved by housing alone.

CEO of Galway Simon Community, Dr. Carol Baumann, stated that the ongoing shortage of affordable accommodation is placing added strain on families and individuals, as well as increasing pressure on the organisation's frontline teams who are trying to support them.

“Persistent shortages in housing delivery, unrelenting rent increases, and the erosion of affordability within the private rented sector have combined to make both securing, and sustaining, a home increasingly out of reach for those most vulnerable among us,” she said.

Galway Simon Community is calling for more investment in community-based health supports, social and affordable housing, and long-term recovery pathways to reduce the reliance on emergency accommodation and bring people out of homelessness.

For more information visit: www.galwaysimon.ie.