Businesses urged to help homeless

THE Simon Community yesterday urged businesses to help fight homelessness. The ‘House of Cards’ Appeal campaign encourages businesses not to send Christmas cards, but instead make a donation to Simon.

The appeal deadline is approaching and firms only have until Friday, November 28, to contribute.

Yesterday, a photocall was held in Dublin city centre and was attended by some of the country’s premier companies.

“We are delighted with the response we’ve had to the appeal so far,” said Dublin Simon Community chief executive Greg Maxwell. “However, with the increasing numbers of homeless in Ireland, we are still far away from our ultimate goal of ending the homeless crisis.”

Many companies have already supported the appeal, including KPMG, Hibernian Group, Goodbody Solicitors, Eagle Star, Bank of Ireland Asset Management, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Fruitfield Foods, First Active, Calor Gas and Keelings.

Mr Maxwell said: “Our target is to raise €500,000 through the appeal this year and we are more than halfway there with more than 50 companies on board.”

This is the fifth year of the campaign which has raised over €1.5 million for the Simon Community.

Some 5,500 people are without a home and one in five people who are homeless are in their early 20s.

Companies wishing to find out more should contact Katherine Ayres, corporate fundraiser, Dublin Simon Community on 01 671 5551.