The Galway Simon Sleep Out took place on October 4, with around 250 people taking part this year.
The annual event is the largest of Galway Simon’s charity events, and this year marks its 10th anniversary
“Over the last few years it’s grown a lot, people are even taking part in their own back gardens,” said Fintan Maher, Head of Fundraising.
The latest statistics published by the Department of Housing show that 14,486 individuals are currently now living in emergency accommodation, which is a 14% annual increase.
In the Galway Simon Community’s 2023 Annual Impact Report, there was a clear consensus that there is a huge demand for homelessness services in the Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon regions with 1,490 people having availed of the organisation’s services.
This year, the sleepouts’ donation target is €100,000, and on the night of the charity’s event, it was “half way there.”
Mr Maher commented on the need to raise awareness for homelessness issues with events like this and added that they would “hopefully” reach the goal as “it is all needed because we have record homelessness in Galway”.
He also said that there has been an increase in people coming to Galway Simon and availing of their services.