Appeal: Donal's Story
Meet Donal
“I’d worked all my life and then suddenly, in my late 50s, my partner died and I found myself homeless.”
That is what happened to Donal. After losing his partner, Donal was told he had just 30 days to leave his home. Grieving and alone, he suddenly found himself with nowhere to go. Thanks to the support of people like you, Galway Simon Community was able to step in. Donal received practical guidance, housing support, and advocacy when he needed it most. Today, he has a place of his own and the dignity of being able to say, “Welcome to my home.”
Homelessness can happen at any stage of life. But for older people, it can be particularly devastating.
In the West, the number of people aged 65 and over experiencing homelessness has increased by 500% since 2017.
Many are people who worked all their lives, raised families, and contributed to their communities.
They never imagined they would be without a home in later life. Behind these numbers are people facing fear, confusion, and deep uncertainty about what comes next. No older person should face homelessness alone.
Why older people need extra support
Older people facing homelessness often tell us the same thing:
“I never thought this could happen to me.”
Many have never dealt with housing services before. They may not know what help they are entitled to, feel intimidated by complex systems, or be too proud to ask for support. Without guidance, it can feel impossible to find a way forward.
How your donation helps
Your gift this spring helps Galway Simon Community to provide one-to-one support for older people at risk of homelessness, advocate on their behalf with housing authorities and services, help them navigate complex systems with dignity and respect, and support them to find and sustain a safe, secure home.
This spring, please stand with older people in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and help ensure that age does not determine whether someone has a place to call home.
