Sleep out aims to raise funds for Cork Simon

Cork Simon Community’s inaugural sleep out event will take place in Cork city centre next week.

The event, the first of its kind for the charity, will take place in Elizabeth Fort off Barrack St on October 10.

The sleep out is being organised in response to the growing number of homeless people across the city and county.

Cork Simon is asking members of the public to raise money for its emergency services by sleeping out in Elizabeth Fort or by hosting their own sleep out in their community, school, or workplace.

“Homelessness has a devastating effect on people’s health and wellbeing, no matter the time of year,” said Cork Simon CEO Dermot Kavanagh. “It’s especially difficult over the winter months.

“Homelessness is now impacting every community in Cork and beyond.

“We are very grateful to all the participants who are taking part in the sleep out for Cork Simon.

“The money raised from the sleep out for Cork Simon will help us support a greater number of men and women in Cork who are homeless and surviving on the streets of Cork over the challenging winter months.”

The number of people experiencing homelessness and seeking life-saving emergency supports continues to increase in Cork, with a record 679 adults depending on emergency accommodation in Cork at the end of August.

This represents a 24% increase in the number of adults accessing emergency accommodation in the area over the last 12 months.

Mr Kavanagh further highlighted how Cork Simon’s emergency shelter, outreach team, day service, and nightly soup run all play a “vital role in supporting people in Cork who are homeless”.

All money raised from the sleep out for Cork Simon will be spent this winter, thus ensuring that Cork Simon can help as many homeless people as possible at what is the toughest time of the year for rough sleeping.

For further information or to take part in the sleep out for Cork Simon next week, email: sleepout@corksimon.ie.