Simon Community' holds a Living Advent

They say we're all just two pay days away from being homeless and for many of us it's just a stark thought - but for others it's already a reality.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Dec 2016, 15:38 BST

Updated 14th Dec 2016, 14:16 BST

Members of the Simon Community entertain travellers with their Christmas carols

Official figures from the Department for Social Development (DSD) show that the number of households who presented as homeless in 2015-2016 was 18,628 - that equates to one in every 100 households.

Simon Community NI has spent the past 40 years opening its doors to give a welcome and shelter to those who are homeless in 22 communities across Northern Ireland and this Christmas they are celebrating each of those projects with their ‘Living Advent Calendar’ which was funded by a Big Lottery Fund grant of £5,000.

In the run up to Christmas something special will happen at each project, highlighting the work in each of the 22 projects. Ballymena will host a Christmas party on Saturday, December 24 to wrap up the festive living advent event.

Northern Ireland Ballymena