Midlands Simon Community hails new partnership deal

Photo: CEO of Midlands Simon Community, Tony O'Riordan.

Clonamore House, Tullamore will be transformed into the best quality emergency homeless service in the State, according to Midlands Simon Community as part of a landmark deal which has seen it partner with Sophia, a leading provider of supported housing, who has acquired the site.

The charity has confirmed funding of €3 million is being provided by the Department of Housing through the local authorities via the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), to provide the improved regional emergency service which could be ready by this time next year.

As part of the deal, a first-of-its-kind collaboration in Ireland, the current emergency accommodation unit at Ballymahon Road, Athlone will be retained for use for those in crisis situations. However, when the refurbished Clonamore House comes on stream its use in homeless services may be altered.

Ahead of Monday's Westmeath County Council meeting, CEO Pat Gallagher signalled the move from a privately-owned centre to charity ownership in his monthly management report by announcing that the "Midlands Simon Community has acquired Clonamore House in Tullamore and will be transferring existing homeless services in Tullamore and Athlone EAS’ to here, with extra capacity."

Under the terms of a landmark agreement, Sophia has purchased the facility on the Arden Road, and Midlands Simon Community will operate the centre, with a team of qualified social care workers providing support on a 24/7 basis. Following refurbishment, the facility will provide professional supports for up to 17 people in need of bridging accommodation before securing long-term accommodation.

CEO Tony O'Riordan has hailed the news as a “massive boost” in creating a new positive future for homeless services in the Midlands given their struggle over many years “to have the necessary capacity to respond to the need and to have a financially sustainable service.”

“We believe and we can say it with considerable confidence and evidence that Clonamore House will be transformed into the best quality emergency service in the State,” he told the Westmeath Independent on Tuesday.

Back in 2018, a report seen by the Westmeath Independent recommended that the Simon services in Athlone and Tullamore, each with six beds, should be brought together into one centralised emergency accommodation service based at Clonamore House Hotel, Tullamore. This was an against a backdrop of the Athlone facility coming under financial pressure because of a shortfall in State funding.

The private report also indicated that application was with the Department of Housing and Planning, Community and Local Government in a bid to acquire the Tullamore premises, in conjunction with Sophia Housing, a forecast that has rung true almost two years later.

Speaking about the acquisition of Clonamore House Hotel, Chairperson of the Voluntary Board of Directors of Midlands Simon Community, Mark Cooney declared it an important initiative.

“Our aim is that those in Clonamore House Hotel will be supported as quickly as possible to secure permanent homes of their own.

“Based on our experience there is a major need for this type of service. Midlands Simon Community has a track record of providing safe, well-managed services and Clonamore House Hotel will meet the high standards which we have always upheld”.

Hailing the retention of their presence in Athlone as part of the deal, Tony O'Riordan paid tribute to the public for their support over many years.

“We wouldn't have survived without the support of the community. We had to raise €180,000 a year to keep the units in Tullamore and Athlone going. We see this (Clonamore) as a solution to that, it's a huge relief – we can keep what we have in Ballymahon Road and add to what's provided.”

In Westmeath, the charity, which employs 20 people, and has over 100 volunteers in the region, currently supports over 50 people at any one time experiencing homelessness in the county.

They believe the new arrangements and increased collaboration with Sophia Housing in many areas since 2016 will mean that they will have the ability to do more in the future.

The homeless charity recently rolled out a new out-of-hours service supported by the four local authorities operates each evening 7 days a week offering practical supports to people who are rough sleeping.

Tullamore's Denis Doherty, who is Chairperson, Sophia Housing Association, said: “The partnership between Sophia and Midlands Simon Community is built on strong foundations, a legacy of compassion and care.”

The new collaboration would not be possible without the support of Offaly County Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, HSE and the Statutory Management Committee of the Midlands Regional Joint Consultative Homeless Forum, Mr O’Riordan said.