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Personal Stories
Billy, 57
I'm 57 years old and have been homeless for 22 years, after my wife and I broke up and I lost my job. For many years I slept on the streets, often in doorways or in a local park. I am now living in a long-term hostel. I drink on a daily basis and I have attended an alcohol detox on a number of occasions.
I have been coming to Merchants Quay for many years, for my breakfast at 7.30. I get to meet other people who are homeless and talk to the staff. Its great to have people around because I often feel lonely living in the hostel. I read the newspaper every morning and sometimes play a game of chess. There's a worker here who helps me when I have problems like issues with social welfare or my health. I've been going to the chiropodist as I'm having problems with my feet from walking round so much in the cold and damp weather.
I'd like to stop drinking and maybe get a place of my own soon. I've spoken to a worker about doing a detox again and he's helping me to fill in the referral forms. 
Clare, 26
I first became homeless when I was twelve years old as a result of continuous family problems. For years, I switched between living on the streets and returning to my family home, where eventually the ongoing arguments and rows led me to return to the streets again. I first began using drugs when I was on the streets and first came into Merchants Quay when I was in my early twenties. At the time I was sleeping rough in the grounds of a housing estate in the South Inner City. I initially just came for breakfast and lunch in the drop in centre, but after a while I decided that I wasn't going to sort out my homelessness until I sorted out my drug problem. I asked to take part in the residential drug free programme at St. Francis Farm.
After successfully attending a treatment programme at St. Francis Farm in Carlow, I was no longer using drugs but I was still homeless. I was put in contact with someone from the Merchants Quay settlement team. They offered me a place in their transitional accommodation project which offers homeless people who have completed residential treatment a six month stay in a drug free environment. During my time there I focused was on looking at issues underpinning my homelessness. I was able to take part in aftercare support, a personal development training, a range of life skills programmes including money management and cookery and relapse prevention training. At the end of six months I was ready to face the world.
I'm now living independently in my own apartment and am working as a chef in a Dublin restaurant I'm now one step closer to fulfilling my dream of working as a chef in New York.
Sean, 22
I remember when I first moved away from home. I was so glad to get out of there. I'd been abused at a young age and couldn't tell anyone about it. I hated school and ended up being suspended and then chucked out. My parents couldn't understand why I was getting into trouble so much and we were fighting all the time. I started getting into trouble with them then. I used to do things just to upset them.
Eventually, I was asked to leave home. I ended up coming to Dublin to stay with some friends as I had nowhere to go. When their landlord found out that they had someone else staying there, he said that he would up the rent unless I left.
I went stay in a hostel then. I didn't like it there 'cos it was full of rules and you couldn't come in until 9 at night and you had to leave at 9 in the morning. After that you were just walking around. It's no wonder so many are drinking or using, there's no better way to kill the time. You never feel safe on the street. It seems like everyone knows your business. I lost loads of weight from not eating properly. I was being robbed a lot. I guess they saw me as an easy target, being on my own. I just tried to keep my head down and stay out of trouble.
While I was in the hostel, I found out that they have a doctor and dentist down in Merchants Quay, and that's why I first went down there. I knew that I wasn't healthy 'cos I'd lost all that weight and had nowhere to cook food for myself. After that I found out that I could come for my breakfast and lunch to Merchants Quay.
I ended up getting my own room at the hostel and from there I managed to get referral to transitional housing. I have an interview next week. Here's hoping...
This fact sheet ©Merchants Quay Ireland 2006 |
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