The eight Simon Communities are:
North West Simon Community
Bee Park Resource Centre
Newline, Manorhamilton
Co. Leitrim
T: 071 98 55 00 5
E: nwsimon@eircom.net
North West Simon Community was formed in June 2005 with a vision of every person in the North West Region - Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo- having a place that s/he can call home. A Regional Development Officer (RDO) started work in November 2005 and the Board of Directors of North West Simon Community set about developing its first strategic plan.
The plan was launched in June 2006 by Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, and has been well received by the public, political representatives and the voluntary and statutory sector. Many local voluntary and statutory organisations were involved in it’s formulation.
The current priorities of North West Simon Community are to:
Develop a Settlement and Tenancy Sustainment Service in each county in the region.
The service, which aims to prevent homelessness, will build on the excellent work that is already being undertaken by voluntary and statutory agencies in the region in working with people who are homeless. North West Simon Community will work with clients on the local authority housing list whose needs cannot be currently met by the authority and who require additional supports to obtain a home and also clients of the local authority who are experiencing difficulties in maintaining their tenancy and may be at risk of losing their home.
Purchase accommodation
The shortage of appropriate, affordable, quality accommodation for rent allowance clients has been identified as a key issue by all of the relevant agencies in the region. The low Capital Assistance Scheme thresholds make it particularly challenging. In conjunction with Simon Communities of Ireland Housing Association and with support from Donegal County Council work is progressing on purchasing units in Letterkenny.