Saturday, August 20, 2011

Donations to Dublin Simon down by 38%

DONATIONS to Dublin Simon Community (DSC) last year fell by more than €500,000, or by almost 40%, as homelessness increased across the capital.

The organisation confirmed yesterday that there were 1,000 people in emergency accommodation in Dublin each night and that DSC provided 169 beds per night last year — an increase of 27.5% on 2009.

Figures in DSC’s annual accounts show donations from the public last year dropped from €1.39 million to €863,246 — a drop of €532,878 or 38% in 12 months.

The figures also show that income from DSC’s church gate collections dropped by more than half from €91,680 to €41,022. This was partly offset by a slight increase in income from fundraising events and other sources from €2.11m to €2.15m.

DSC spokeswoman Lorna Cronnelly said: "Dublin Simon emergency accommodation is stretched, as we are currently witnessing increased presentations to our services. Numbers accessing the Nightbus — from which people are placed in emergency accommodation — have increased, as have the numbers of sleeping bags given out on a daily basis by the Nightbus, Dublin Simon Rough Sleeper Team and the Soup Run."

On the numbers of homeless in Dublin, Ms Cronnelly said: "The last rough sleeper count figure from last March found 59 people bedded down sleeping rough.

"We view this figure as an absolute minimum number in relation to people sleeping rough in Dublin on any given night as it does not include people in squats, couch-surfing, sleeping in parks and so on."

On the drop in public donations, Ms Cronnelly said: "In the last year, we have witnessed a decrease in the number of people donating. However, our biggest hit has been the drop in the average amount that people are now donating. While we are extremely aware of the heightened financial pressures faced by the public today, we would urge those who are still in a position to assist organisations such as Dublin Simon to please continue to do so. Without their support the future of our services and, more importantly, the future for those that we work with, is very bleak indeed."

Exacerbating the financial difficulties faced by DSC, the organisation last year sustained a €672,000 cut in its Dublin City Council grant and a cut of €153,000 in its Health Service Executive (HSE) grant.

The combination of the drop in donations and income from state agencies resulted in DSC’s income dropping by €1.1m, from €10.3m to €9.1m last year.

On the level of funding DSC received from state agencies this year, Ms Cronnelly said: "Negotiation is still ongoing in relation to final funding for this year. We are aware that there will be further cuts this year, and in 2012 — the extent of which we are not sure yet."

Ms Cronnelly said that there is more pressure on DSC’s services than ever. She said: "Pressure is constant due to the ill-health, vulnerability, access to accommodation and limited options for people who find themselves homeless."

The drop in income resulted in salaries being frozen at DSC in 2010. 

Last year, the organisation paid €6m to its 124 staff.

Ms Cronnelly said: "Our wage costs have been reduced and all salaries have been frozen. Last year, we made a payroll reduction of €402,000."