Farren praises Simon Community’s help for the homeless

Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Sean Farren has praised the vision shown by the Simon Community as the charity moves forward in its thirtieth year of helping the homeless.

The Minister was speaking at an American Business Breakfast organised by the Simon Community and held in the Hard Rock Café, Odyssey Complex.

The breakfast was an opportunity for representatives of the business community to share their commitment in supporting the work of the Simon Community and encourage other leading businesses and individuals to lend their support.

Dr Farren said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the Simon Community’s work with single, homeless people throughout Northern Ireland.

"I am particularly encouraged that the Charity is looking at their thirtieth Anniversary as an opportunity not only to reflect on the past, but also to create a vision for the future. The aim of their new "Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness" project is to encourage homeless people to re-engage through independent living and participation in specialist training programmes.

"Given that this will encourage participation in training programmes aimed at developing self-esteem and future employability, it is very much in line with the work of the Taskforce on Employability and Long Term Unemployment."

Dr Farren also thanked the Simon Community for their commitment in providing accommodation and support for single homeless people in Northern Ireland for the past 30 years. (CL)