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A HOMELESS CAMP has sprung up on a south Dublin green area and the number of people staying there is slowly increasing.
A number of young men, fed up with hostels and sleeping on the streets, have banded together to protect themselves in number, deciding to trust each other instead of relying on just themselves.
The camp is located just off the Luas green line but, due to the men’s concerns over safety, they have asked that we keep the specific location private.
“We’re worried we’re going to freeze to death this year,” one young man said as he climbed out of his tent on Monday morning.
Dressed only in a black t-shirt, the man, who is in his early 20s, shivered as he tried to remain warm. He explained that the number of tents has been increasing as word spreads that their green area is safe and relatively sheltered from the elements.
“I have a dog, the hostels won’t accept animals. But, to be honest, I don’t want to stay there. It’s just drugs. None of us touch drugs here,” he said.
We want to be safe. A homeless man died on the streets last year, we’re worried we’re going to freeze to death this year.
The demographic of the camp is broad, ranging from young men recently out of prison to the newly homeless immigrant who wants to feel safe.
There were eight tents erected when we approached the men living there on Monday afternoon. One man said the green area has been the safest place he has slept since becoming homeless.
They don’t mind that they are visible to the passing Luas traffic, instead one man told us that the felt comforted by the sound of the passing trams.
Rather than feel unwanted in the area, the men described how they have been welcomed into the community. Locals have brought them food, sleeping bags, hats, gloves and jackets to keep them warm.
‘We’ve had no problems’
“One of them even said they were sorry we couldn’t stay in their house because they had no room,” said Willie, who is originally from the UK and in his 4os.
“I think they know we’re good people. They came out and gave us really good sleeping bags. It’s getting proper cold now so it’s nice to have every little piece you can get. We feel welcome here. We’ve had no problems.”
Another man, who called himself Patrick, told TheJournal.ie that he has found it difficult integrating back into society following his release from prison. Patrick explained how he was inside for a relatively short stretch but that he didn’t want to go near the hostels as he wants to stay away from drugs.
“You go there to sleep, but most go there to do drugs and then pass out. It’s not what we want. There are homeless people who have drink and drug problems, yeah, we all know that. But then there’s us.
I made a mistake and now I’m living in a tent on the other side of Dublin.
While most of the men were happy to talk under condition their full names not be used, one man declined.
‘Bickering brother’
Seemingly angered by the presence of a journalist, the man decided to leave for a soup run.
Patrick explained that the group “has problems the odd time. But because we don’t do drugs or drink, we usually just talk things out”.
According to the group of men, the council has already attempted to move them on from the area.
The man in the black t-shirt has now re-emerged from his tent, dressed in a wooly jumper and a hat.
“The problem is we’re too profitable. Homelessness has become an industry. They profit from us. They say they care but it’s in their interest to keep us on the streets. I don’t think I’ll ever have a home.”
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council confirmed to TheJournal.ie that ”Dublin’s Housing First Team have visited the location”.
The Housing First Service is funded by Dublin City Council and operated by Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust and engages with people who are rough sleeping across the Dublin region.
Roughan McNamara of Focus Ireland said the Dublin Housing First project has provided permanent homes for 63 people who were formerly rough sleeping.
Initially, the project target was 100 tenancies, which has been increased to 300.
McNamara said the challenge faced by Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust is to scale up housing provision and overcome the acute lack of affordable housing that has hindered the project to date.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Sorcha Nic Cormaic told TheJournal.ie that it is very worrying to see the men group together in the cold.
It just shows you that they feel safer to be outside in the freezing cold rather than take the risk in the hostels.
“I think it’s a very worrying development.”
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Amazing how homeless continues to get worse in this day and age of ‘recovery’. Glad the regular people of the area are welcoming them. Wonder how many spare bedrooms our fearless leaders have that go unused each night.
Keep in mind every public sector that strike looking for more money is delaying any progress to solving the homeless problem, there is only so much money in the pot.
Oh Alex,you won’t be popular,even though you are correct,this is a cold house to the truth.
@michael o brien: Nonsense surely. I mean, you can’t be implying we all need to make financial sacrifices at a national level. Didn’t you read Garbs post, the solution is for politicians to house the homeless – but crucially not to move spending from other areas or increase taxation.
Alex Murphy, are you suggesting that it’s up to the public sector to fund a solution to this problem? Why not raise taxes so we can all contribute?
@garb yakob: Next to the green Luas line they sleep so opportunity to earn 50k a year after few weeks of training is within arm’s reach…
@Alex Murray:
You understand of course that homeless crisis developed while the public sector was having their wages slashed to pay for the banker’s debts?
The homeless crisis, the decimation of the public sector, the health and education systems crumbling , the Home taxes and the water charges etc etc etc. are all symptoms of the same problem. That is the austerity program imposed on the Irish people to pay for the banker’s debts and more broadly the capitalist economy which exploits the many to enrich the few.
@Billy Mooney: I would point out though (as a private sector worker) that Bertie benchmarked all public sector pay at 125% of private sector, so they were coming down from a much higher base than we poor hewers of wood and drawers of water who eat our bread in the sweat of our faces and no pirmanint pinsionibles for us…
@John O’Driscoll:
Bertie was no friend of the working class in either the public or private sector. . It’s an old strategy of capital to keep the working class divided. They set us at each others throats under a variety of guises including religion, nationality, gender, race, working vs unemployed, public vs private sector, immigrant vs resident etc etc.
@Billy Mooney:
Billy the public sector gets paid from taxation. Taxes fell through the floor.
What did the public sector do?
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/shoppers-swarm-across-border-1.849601
Hordes of people surged across the Border into Northern Ireland as they used today’s national public sector strike to stock up on Christmas shopping.
The AA reported traffic tailbacks of up to six kilometres, stretching from Newry back to the M1, which it said was unusual for a normal Tuesday.
Many of the shoppers were public sector workers who were reluctant to be identified but said they were taking advantage of the strike to stock up on groceries and goods.
And then you wonder why the tax take was down. You seem to have forgotten this fact.
Nonsense Alex Murray, that sort of comment just seeks to set the somewhat poor against the even more poor, while totally deflecting attention from the wealth that is generated in this country and kept in the hands of a very few. Wake up, see the bigger picture here. We have an economic system that is broken beyond repair, it needs to be replaced.
Best of luck to them.
Seems to be a huge problem with the way homeless hostels are managed. No proper security or enforcement of the rules.
Usually some guy on night shift who locks himself in the office with his dog and ignores what thuggery goes down until morning comes.
Not good enough really.
Ignores the thuggery ? Whats one man and his dog supposed to do ? Outnummbered by herion addicts.
@Derek Trotter:
That’s my point Derek.
Did we ever think we would see shanty towns in good old ireland.what have these politians done….the damage is in surmountable…….and they want Bertie back. Put him to the lash more like
@Upowthat Burke: what has this to do with bertie since fg got into power all the social ills like homelessness have doubled and trippled, ff in general have done nothing to help the situation as all they do is support fg, opposition my ass….
Hate it when these concerned citizens are saying we should do something about this issue. But not in my doorstep attitude comes in. Also shocking how these 2nd rated celebs are “sleeping rough” in hundreds of euro worth of gear, for their own gain and popularity.
If the gender situation was reversed the NWCI would have a melt down. Why won’t the patriarch stand up for these men?
@Eva Carneiro: Capitalism and issues surrounding class. It’s terrible.
I have contacted Focus Ireland to see if there is any supplies that they may need to help them out. I know we could just bring them supplies but you need to respect their decision to not draw attentiuon to where they are no matter how obvious it may be. When FI get back to me I will post the info here for those interested.
Any reply? I have seen a local FB group looking for donations as well, but would help to know what they need.
@Shane Walsh: I would imagine, it’d help to have some sort of camping mattresses – the thicker the better.. Also, foil blankets. And if the nearby residents are helping them, hot water bottles would be good.
Simon coveney build a marque for these people with a security guard and heating in one of the many parks on a temp basis. People are going to die! It will be -4 tomorrow. Employ 100 security guards in hostels to check people for drugs going into hostels. Have no confidence in this guy.
The Journal tells us theya re not revealing the location of the camp and them interview the local sinn fein councillor, obviously the journals is more interested in publicity for their favourite political party than the safety and security of the homeless men
@Garrett Mccolgan: You don’t see any reason why not revealing the location might be in the interest of the safety and security of the homeless men?
FWII this story was on the news on Monday evening.
#tinfoilheadwear
Well said fred
Empty buildings and property all around this city and these poor unfortunates are sleeping in a field in the middle of winter. First world country my arse.
Im living in a tent down the country and its ace, beautiful location, fresh water stream, so cleaner water to drink and bathe in than the chlorinated flouridated town recycled urine. It really isnt cold if your half smart about it, just combine 3 single person pop up tents into one and then you put the pop ups into the main bigger tent when.you want to sleep, last week it was -4 and i only had to use one sleeping bag and minimal clothing, the best insulators are air and plastic so if you use them together you will never be cold in this country. Its not Russia were in. So please spread the word about this.method, I got my tents for free from the festivals, but im sure people would donate pop up tents if asked or check gumtree maybe.
Why is the Journal not telling us where the camp is located?
Something fishy here.
@Willie Penwright: Its next to Green Line and Miltown bridge – thousands of commuters see them every day so no secret here.
Tough and the housed poor are freezing inside their homes because of the carbon tax and Eamon Ryan’s exhorbitant electricity prices. The Irish are a cruel people and many an native American found out
these are the only homeless people that i would feel sympathy for. they’re actually trying to help themselves instead of turning to drugs and aggressively panhandling or robbing people
This is what happen when we are divine on the ability to tick boxes, the majority of the generation before us even tho probably earn less were able to get mortgages never missed a payment or had them repo etc.. yet today people tick all boxes then when things change the boxes mean nothing and they lose every thing and when need help have to tick the boxes again, We need to go back to taking people as they are not by what they are on paper.
@Domhnall Cosgrave:
Oh and I dont consider myself homeless a well organsed tent is a perfectly viable home. With solar panels and mini gas stoves I eat the best of organic food, best nights sleep ever when in your nature. Sustainable living off the grid is a thing of the future.
Im living in a tent down the country and its ace, beautiful location, fresh water stream, so cleaner water to drink and bathe in than the chlorinated flouridated town recycled urine. It really isnt cold if your half smart about it, just combine 3 single person pop up tents into one and then you put the pop ups into the main bigger tent when.you want to sleep, last week it was -4 and i only had to use one sleeping bag and minimal clothing, the best insulators are air and plastic so if you use them together you will never be cold in this country. Its not Russia were in. So please spread the word about this method, guaranteed to work. I got my tents for free from the festivals, but im sure people would donate pop up tents if asked or check gumtree maybe.
Dont talk about the problems of the past. Whats done is done, Talk about how to resolve them in the future. Do all you can. Do not just be a keyboard warrior. Get up and do something about it.
MARCH WATER RIGHTS WHAT ABOUT HOMLESS RIGHTS
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