Mark Hartery is a Transition Year student. Here he writes about one of the biggest crises facing Ireland right now. 

THE FACT THAT homelessness is still such a big problem in Ireland makes me angry.

It makes me question the type of country I am growing up in. It makes me wonder why this issue is not at the top of the political agenda.

Until recently, I didn’t even realise that Ireland was facing this, one of its most serious issues in history. I had heard stories about people sleeping on the street but had never taken much notice.

Then in school, we decided to focus on the issue. First, I thought that our work would merely involve fundraising but I was wrong. I took part in a sleep-out for Focus Ireland and it completely changed my perspective.

To be honest though, my friends and I thought this would be a bit of fun. But within a short space of time I was cold, wet and lonely.

I began to appreciate just a little about how it feels to be homeless. When I got home, it hit me how lucky I was to have a bed because for the homeless person, they were heading into another night on the street.

Now, when I walk past a homeless person, I imagine how they might be feeling. I now always try to say hello or acknowledge them as I can see how alone one can feel on a cold pavement.

Walking in their shoes gave me a great motivation to help make a difference.

Our Peace and Justice group at school met with members of the High Hopes choir in Waterford, many of whom have been or are homeless.

They are an amazing group of people and I am privileged to have worked with them. They really exposed a human side of homelessness to me, as well as intelligence and friendliness.

I know there are a lot of people in Ireland who think that homeless people deserve to be on the street and that they are all drug addicts or alcoholics.

I found that most of the time, this was not the cause of their homelessness. Some turn to drink and drugs as a way of coping with their desperate situations. There’s certainly a hidden aspect to homelessness that I’ve discovered.

It’s not just people sleeping in a shop window but families floating from hotel room to couch or B&B each night.

I interviewed three sisters from Waterford for our Facebook page. They had all been homeless at one stage in their lives. They all had a normal childhood. One of the sisters had Down syndrome and the others were responsible for looking after her.

After their mother died, they were drifting between houses. Their relationships broke down and they were forced into a women’s refuge. Sadly, their children were taken into care temporarily.

They told me that during their darkest times, they felt lonely, anxious and depressed.

There was always a constant worry about their children and trying to find a place to live. Thankfully things are starting to look up for them, they are back in education and are moving into new housing.

Recently, one of the women told me that having seen the impact her story had online, that I had given her confidence and she was inspired to be a voice for the homeless.

That is something I am very proud and humbled by but it also shows how even the smallest thing can have an effect on a person who is struggling.

I was in awe of their bravery.

My anger and disbelief that this problem has been allowed to get worse makes me along with other young people, want to stand up and do something about it.

We’ve started a campaign called the ‘One Campaign for Change’ to raise awareness about homelessness and be a loud voice.

What we are doing to raise awareness about the issue is using social networking sites to tell the stories of the ‘Humans of the South East’. Creating videos with information on homelessness and talking about the issue of homelessness on the radio and newspapers.

We have launched a petition against homelessness and have had various homeless awareness events in our schools. We were asked to write a Proclamation for a New Generation to celebrate the centenary of 1916.

We wrote ours on homelessness. We wanted to honour the Leaders of the Rising who fought for Ireland’s freedom but also acknowledge that Ireland as a nation still has a long way to go to make it the kind of Republic that the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation would have been proud of:

To the people of Ireland

Calling on the Irish government to take action tackling the housing and homelessness crisis immediately. Every Irish citizen should have the right to adequate housing. The Irish Republic guarantees funding to build as many social houses as are necessary to ensure that every citizen has a home.

The Irish Republic is responsible for providing and funding facilities and programmes that can prevent homelessness and help those in poverty.

The Irish Republic has a duty to look after Ireland’s most vulnerable citizens who are at the highest risk of being homeless, through drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, education and training or counselling/ vocational services.

Charities and organisations on the ground working with affected people should be given better support to carry out their essential and necessary work.

Irish people should act to help this cause for the common good of its people and to guarantee a better Republic into the future.” 

I hope that with the new government now formed our new political leaders will read our Proclamation and do their utmost to honour it and act on it. With this Proclamation we are saying that there is a better way, that there is a better future, and that we have to tackle homelessness if we want Ireland to be a fair and equal place to grow up in.

To join the campaign and to sign up to the One Campaign for Change go to www.onecampaignforchange.weebly.com The Ard Scoil na Mara students are trying to collect 50,000 signatures of support on their petition, starting with the 33,000 other students in 97 Edmund Rice Schools around the country, which are also taking on the issue of homelessness. When they have this number they will go to the Dáil with High Hopes Choirs from around the country to call on the new Government to act on homelessness.