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Sleep Out Challenge 2014

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At the launch of the Mid West Simon Community Sleep Out Challenge 2014 which will be held on October 3 – Geraldine Lambert, Chairperson of the Mid West Simon Community, Irene Hamilton, Limerick Leader, Jan O Sullivan, Minister of Education and Mayor of Limerick Michael Sheahan. Picture: MunsterImages.ie.

By I love Limerick Correspondent Ethan Glavin

The Mid West Simon Community will be hosting the Sleep Out Challenge 2014 in Limerick City on October 3 to help fund their different projects and services in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.

Participants in the challenge agree to sleep out from 8pm to 6am in a secure area at one of the three locations provided. They will also choose their bed for the night from one of three options available – the ‘rough sleeper’ option, the ‘emergency accommodation’ option and the ‘couch surfing’ option, which contrary to its name does not involve actual couches.


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To further raise awareness on the issues faced by people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, there will be informative talks and presentations throughout the evening. In addition to that there will also be entertainment provided throughout the evening to make it an overall fun experience.

Funds raised during the Sleep Out Challenge 2014 will both help finance existing services as well as a new pilot project. Currently the Simon Communities provide a number of different services, such as advice and information clinics, tenancy sustainment, transitional housing, and deposit guarantee schemes, breakfast runs and food distribution. The new programme aims to support individuals and families facing eviction due to distressed mortgages to prevent them from slipping into the cycle of homelessness.

In addition to directly providing assistance for people facing homelessness and those at risk thereof through the above mentioned services, they inform people about their rights and enable them to claim those, especially their basic human right to housing. The Simon Communities all over Ireland are also campaigning for a political solution to homelessness through legislative, and economic and social policy changes.

Join the Sleep Out Challenge 2014 on Facebook for more information on how to register.

To find out more about Mid West Simon and learn how to get involved, visit their website, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Sleep Out Challenge 2014

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.