Pressure mounts on Simon with centre at capacity nightly

SIMON Community centres around the country – which provide aid to the homeless – are facing growing pressure on their services, with the Cork Simon revealing they are full to capacity every night.

The revelation came as the Simon Communities of Ireland launched its annual report for 2008, ahead of the Government target for next year of eliminating rough sleeping and long-term homelessness.

The chief executive of the Simon Communities in Ireland, Patrick Burke, said: “We know that Cork Simon’s Emergency Shelter is full every night [44 beds].