Simon receives €124,000 from architects to help homeless

Architects donate €90 fee for consultations held during Open Door week to charity

Architects have raised €124,000 for the Simon Communities through their annual Open Door initiative.

Architects across the State offer one-hour consultations with people looking to build or renovate their own homes during one week of the year. People pay €90 for the consultation and the entire amount goes to the charity.

Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland president Carole Pollard said 191 members held 1,366 consultations .

Since the campaign began in 2004, over €720,000 has been raised by the scheme, which is now in its 13th year. This is the first time the annual fundraising has collected more than €100,000.

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"RIAI Simon Open Door is a wonderful initiative which raises much-needed funds for the Simon Communities and supports our work addressing the housing and homelessness crisis all around Ireland," said Niamh Randall, national spokeswoman for the Simon Communities in Ireland.

“As an annual event, it has captured the imagination of the general public who subscribe in such large numbers.”