The charity is expected to temporarily locate to the new site for two years
Glen Road Belfast stock image(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
Residents in West Belfast have raised concerns over “children’s safeguarding” ahead of the planned temporary move of a homeless hostel to the area.
The Glen Road Residents Group said they “unequivocally” support homelessness services, applauding the work done by the Simon Community, but said they object to the “specific location” for the charity’s hostel.
The group said they are concerned by “the lack of adequate consideration given to the safeguarding of children and the wider community”, and highlighted the hostel’s close proximity to schools, care homes, nurseries, and family estates.
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It comes as the Simon Community is planning to temporarily relocate its young person’s service to Glen Road in early 2026 while their current home in South Belfast undergoes an essential refurbishment. This service will offer temporary accommodation to 26 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 “who need a safe and stable home to enter the next chapter of their lives”.
It is expected the charity will rent the site on the Glen Road for the next two years while redevelopment of its current site is undertaken.
A letter from the Glen Road Residents Group has been sent to the charity, urging for the hostel to be relocated. They have also criticised the charity’s engagement with the community over the location, describing a recent community open day as “deeply concerning.”
A spokesperson for the group said: “Parents and residents raised detailed safeguarding questions and requested basic information, including statistics relating to safeguarding arrangements and even the expected male-to-female ratio of residents. Many of these questions could not be answered on the day.”
The charity has defended its level of engagement in the area, adding that more is planned in the area ahead of the hostel opening.
The residents group said “evidence and lived experience” across the city shows anti-social behaviour “often increases in the vicinity of hostels, placing added strain on families, children, and vulnerable residents.” They claimed the proposed location “places thousands of schoolchildren at risk” due to its close proximity to shcools.
A spokesperson added: “If others feel unable to speak, we as residents will. We will be the voice for our children and our community when no one else will.”
They are calling for planning reform to ensure the impact of such hostels is “formally assessed, in the same way GP practices, dental surgeries, psychiatric units, and other sensitive services are required to do.”
“Hostels should be safe, for residents inside them and for the communities around them. That includes the thousands of children who live, learn, and walk past these buildings every day,” they added.
An online petition calling for the hostel to be relocated has amassed just over 300 signatures.
The Simon Community has detailed the current scale of the homelessness crisis in Northern Ireland, with 62,314 people currently homeless, including more than 19,000 children.
They said West Belfast is particularly affected with almost 7,000 people currently experiencing homelessness – the second-highest figure in Northern Ireland.
CEO of the Simon Community, Jim Dennison, said: “We understand that when any new service opens this can naturally raise questions and concerns. We want to reassure local residents, parents and the wider community that this particular service has operated successfully in South Belfast for over 20 years, right beside Methodist College, with an excellent record of safety and positive neighbour relations.
“For the past six months we have been exploring Glen Road as a possible new home for the young people and have been engaging with local schools and elected representatives. We know this matters to people locally, and we’re committed to staying in touch, listening to concerns and meeting with community members as plans progress.
“We also want to reassure local residents, parents and the wider community that this particular service has operated successfully in South Belfast for over 20 years, in a residential area right beside Methodist College, with an excellent record of safety and positive relationships with neighbours.”
Mr Dennison added: “Our young people are facing soaring rents and a lack of affordable housing, leaving them with very few options. If we do not proceed with this temporary move and refurbishment, the 26 young people will simply have nowhere safe to go – and that doesn’t bear thinking about.”
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