We, the residents, parents, families, and members of the wider West Belfast community, formally object to the proposed relocation of a Simon Community hostel from South Belfast to 210 Glen Road, West Belfast, intended to accommodate 18–24-year-olds.

Our opposition is not based on a lack of compassion or support for young people experiencing homelessness or complex needs. We fully acknowledge the important role that Simon Community plays and believe vulnerable young people deserve appropriate support, accommodation, and care. However, we strongly believe that this specific location is unsuitable and unsafe for children, families, local residents, and for the young people who would be housed there.

The proposed site is located on a busy main road that serves as a key route for eight schools, including nursery, primary, and secondary schools. Every weekday, hundreds of children and young people walk past this location, many of them unaccompanied. This raises serious concerns regarding safeguarding, child safety, and pedestrian risk.

There have been previous and ongoing incidents requiring police involvement at Simon Community hostels at both current and former locations. These incidents heighten concerns about placing a facility of this nature directly along major school walking routes and in a densely populated residential area.

We are deeply concerned that this proposal has advanced without proper due process, risk assessment, or genuine community engagement. To date, there has been:

• No safeguarding or child-protection assessment
• No assessment of risks to schoolchildren or child walking routes
• No traffic or pedestrian safety study
• No crime-prevention or community safety review
• No Section 75 Equality Impact Assessment
• Only minimal and last-minute consultation with the local community

This lack of preparation and transparency is unacceptable and undermines public confidence.

We reiterate that we support services for young people in need, but the location is wrong. The safety of children, families, residents, and hostel occupants must be prioritised. Children and families come first.

We therefore call on Simon Community to withdraw its proposal to relocate to 210 Glen Road and to seek a more suitable, appropriate location! We further call on all public authorities involved including Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Education Authority, and Social Services, to withdraw any approval, funding, licensing, or support associated with this proposal.

Finally, we urge local schools, parents’ groups, Boards of Governors, and all political parties to support this petition and to prioritise the daily safety of children who must walk past this location.