April 26, 2022

Fourteen of Ireland’s biggest property companies are coming together as sponsors of this year’s Dragons at the Docks event with the aim of raising more than €300,000 for Dublin’s Simon Community and other local charities.

The now-annual fundraiser will return as a physical event to Capital Dock in the city’s south docklands on Thursday, September 1st, after two years of virtual events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since its launch in 2017, the Dragon races have raised more than €1 million for charity, with almost €700,000 going to the Dublin Simon Community. The funds raised have helped to purchase 23 homes, allowing 26 adults and eight children to move out of homelessness and into permanent housing. The funds raised in 2022 could provide enough money to support the acquisition of about 10 new homes

Dublin Simon Community uses a funding model whereby every €25,000 provides enough capital to secure the acquisition of a one-bedroom apartment. It is then able to finance the balancing amount via loans which are repaid through the housing-related income support (such as HAP) that is available to the occupant. This model has proven effective in providing permanent, safe homes for people and families who have experienced homelessness. Seventy-five per cent of the funds raised this year will go to the Dublin Simon Community, with the balance to be distributed to local charities in the Grand Canal Dock area.

Find out more here.