AS PART OF our Homeless Ireland series this week, one of the big things we want to do is hear from homeless people about what their lives are like.
As our journalists travelled around the country, they asked the homeless people that they met to answer some questions that we had written down on index cards.
Each card contained two or three questions. They all began with “How long have you been homeless?” before asking other things: What’s the best thing that happened to you in the last week? How much sleep do you get? Describe being homeless in three words. What could the Government do to help you? What do you think of the Gardaí?
We highlighted some of the responses yesterday, but today we’re looking at specific questions that were asked to people in hostels and day centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway: Where would you like to be in one year? What’s your biggest fear? And what’s the hardest thing about being homeless?
Where would you like to be in a year’s time?
“In a bed [in a hostel or other accommodation] full time.”
“In a home.”
“Off tablets and have some sort of job. I would do any type of work. Peace of mind.”
“Africa.”
“Living in my new home. Health issues resolved. Plan an adventure. Create and implement plan to provide myself with financial security. Check in with councillors if necessary. PS: Make a note to those who helped me during this time and say thank you (again).”
“I’d like to be dependable by self and have a life. Some people turn their noses but every little helps when you have nowhere to sleep.”
What’s your biggest fear?
“Continuing being homeless, never having a place to take my 11-year-old daughter.”
“Death.”
“My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to live in my own home over all the problems I have. I just want to settle down and live a normal life. I don’t wanna be homeless ever again.”
What is the hardest thing about being homeless?
“It can get monotonous, you can’t plan ahead or be productive. Stressful.”
“Loneliness, depression, no solid place to live.”
“Finding a home and being stuck in homeless shelter and having to eat food that I really don’t like because I’m from a different country.”
“Being in the Fairgreen [hostel] not being ungrateful but sharing my life with total strangers is hard.”
“Getting the nice place drug-free off the freephone or finding somewhere dry and safe to sleep out in.”
Main pic: Andrew Bennett via Flickr/Creative Commons
All other pics: TheJournal.ie
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