A management committee launches under the Simon Community Trust. Volunteers open a house on Howard Street South, walking the city four nights a week to support rough sleepers, often through riots and gunfire.

To strengthen independence and respond more effectively to local needs, the organisation reduces its reliance on governance and oversight from London and instead aligns more closely with the Irish Federation, becoming effectively autonomous.

A major community campaign secures vital funds, including our first government grant, providing a strong foundation for growth. This landmark moment strengthens the organisation’s financial stability and capacity, enabling services to develop, innovate and support people well into the future.

A new service on Cliftonpark Avenue provides immediate support to people sleeping rough. Alongside Extern, we help form the Council for the Homeless (NI), driving awareness and influencing policy.

The Council for the Homeless secures a landmark commitment from government to introduce legislation protecting the rights of people who are homeless. This advocacy leads to lasting change, with the legislation formally passed into law in 1988, strengthening legal protections and shaping responses to homelessness for years to come.

A new property, developed in partnership with Open Door Housing Association, opens on Cliftonpark Avenue, expanding access to safe and secure places to stay. The project strengthens local housing options and supports people to move towards stability and independence.

A new house opens in Newry, marking the beginning of regional expansion. This important step extends support beyond the organisation’s original base, bringing services closer to people in need and laying the foundations for a wider, more regionally responsive approach.

New accommodation opens in Larne, Coleraine, Downpatrick and Derry/Londonderry, alongside a new house in South Belfast, significantly expanding support across the region. This period of growth brings safe, supported housing closer to people in need in more local communities. At the same time, a National Sleep Out brings people together across the country, raising vital funds and awareness while shining a spotlight on the realities of homelessness.

We become the first organisation in the UK to achieve the BEN ISO 9002 quality standard, which is an internationally recognised quality standard that shows an organisation has strong systems in place to consistently deliver high‑quality services.

In partnership with the NI Housing Executive, we introduce Northern Ireland’s first Rent Guarantee Scheme, helping people move into private rented homes. The Belfast Foyer opens, supporting young people aged 17–25, and becomes are largest young person’s service to date.

Our first accommodation service for families experiencing homelessness opens in West Belfast. Designed to provide safety, stability and dignity, the service offers families a secure place to stay while supporting them to rebuild their lives and move towards a permanent home.

A new approach begins in Bangor and Newtownards to improve health, safety and wellbeing. The programme focuses on reducing the risks associated with homelessness and substance use by offering practical support, health advice and safer choices that help people stay well and engaged with services.

Our new strategy that for the first time had a vision of ending homelessness and introduced our new values including non-judgemental. Also brought in a new approach to our work including through person centred services and support.

With support from Nationwide, a dedicated service is launched to help people access private rental homes. The service provides practical assistance through financial support with the private rental deposit – helping people secure stable housing and prevent a return to homelessness.

Over 140 staff come together to share learning, reflect on progress and strengthen collaboration across the organisation. Alongside this, a new Health & Wellbeing Strategy is launched, reaffirming our commitment to supporting staff and service users alike. The year is further marked by national recognition, with our One Big Sleep Out fundraising event named Event of the Year, celebrating the power of community action and partnership.

The improved Young People’s Learning Centre at The Foyer opens, creating a welcoming space for education, creativity and personal development. Designed to support learning and build confidence, the centre offers young people access to resources, skills development and opportunities that help them grow, achieve their goals and prepare for independent living.

During Homelessness Awareness Week, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) creators around the world share our films, introducing the issue to new and diverse audiences. By using a creative and unexpected medium, the campaign raises awareness of homelessness in a fresh, engaging way and sparks conversations far beyond traditional channels.

The CIH Housing Awards took place at Titanic Belfast on Friday 21 February 2020. The awards celebrated and recognised the breadth of work across the sector in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, showcasing the amazing work and inspirational people seen in communities every day.

During the pandemic, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey visits The Belfast Foyer to recognise the essential support provided during an unprecedented period. Throughout COVID‑19, we remain the only homelessness provider to stay open to new referrals, ensuring no one was turned away in a time of crisis. We also chair the multi‑agency group coordinating the homelessness response across Northern Ireland, while, with the support of funders and local councils, Isolation Packs are delivered to every project to help people stay safe, connected and supported during lockdown.

To mark our 50th anniversary, we commit to buying and managing 50 homes for people who are homeless through our Creating Homes initiative. This ambitious commitment reflects a shift towards long‑term solutions, providing safe, stable and affordable homes that give people the foundation they need to rebuild their lives and move out of homelessness for good.

We launch a new organisational strategy, setting out a clear vision for the future and the priorities that will guide our work. The strategy reaffirms our commitment to ending homelessness through innovation, strong partnerships and person‑centred support, ensuring our services continue to respond to need, create lasting change and put people at the heart of everything we do.

A campaign shines a light on the thousands of people experiencing homelessness out of sight. It highlights the hidden realities of sofa surfing, living in unsafe or overcrowded conditions, and being trapped in temporary arrangements – challenging assumptions about what homelessness looks like and calling for greater understanding, support and action.

Simon Community  achieved the esteemed Great Place to Work certification for the year 2024. Great Place to Work is a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviours.

Ground‑breaking research explores how adverse childhood experiences shape pathways into homelessness. By deepening understanding of trauma and its long‑term effects, the research helps inform earlier intervention, prevention strategies and more trauma‑informed support, improving outcomes for people at risk of homelessness.