Housing with Support

Our “Housing with Support” Service opened in 2012. It is based in Athlone and is called Slí Nua (Irish for New Way). It is designed to provide 7 single people with self-contained accommodation in individual 1-bed apartments in Athlone. We also provide a range of dedicated supports to ensure people are able to maintain and sustain their tenancies.
 
Some people who are referred to Midlands Simon Community for support need more intensive support than can be provided by either our Emergency Accommodation Service or our Regional Support Service.
 
This is where Slí Nua comes in. Slí Nua gives each person their own home, privacy and dignity and it is also more financially sustainable.

Residents will have regular and often daily contact with either a professional social care worker or a full-time volunteer. Some of the supports provided to Service Users are:

• Helping people who use our services to develop skills of self-care such as cooking and cleaning. 
• Supporting people who use our services to manage a budget, to pay rent and pay utilities. 
• Supporting Service Users to maintain their own accommodation in areas such as rubbish and disposal. 
• Supporting those using Slí Nua to develop meaningful activities which helps to build confidence and allows for integration into the local community.

Slí Nua could not have opened in April 2012 without all those who support our work, including all those who donate or support our fundraising activities, all those who volunteer and all the agencies who have backed the project, including the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D.O.E.C.L.G) and the Athlone Town Council. The project is also run in partnership with the HSE.

From L to R - Ruth Keane and Seamus Donnelly (Emergency Accommodation Service)

From L to R - Cora McDonnell, Leanne Fenane and Laura Carley (Emergency Accommodation Service)