Miracles happen at Christmas and my girlfriend says: ‘The best thing you can get for me this Christmas is your own place’.”

Michael* has been residing at St Martha’s hostel on the outskirts of Longford town since the summer of 2016. The hostel provides emergency accommodation and is under the patronage of St Vincent de Paul. It is funded by the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Despite the hardship Michael has endured, sleeping rough and drifting from place to place, he speaks with optimism and hope, as the prospect of finally having a place to call home comes within reach.

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“I feel like things are falling into place. I’m at that stage in my life now where I just want to settle down like anyone else,” he explains.

Michael has been homeless since the age of 16, following a disagreement with his family. A feud that has never been resolved.

“I’ve been on my own since I was 16. I’ve been homeless most of my life and I’m in my 30s now. I got disowned by my family. I have nieces and nephews that I haven’t even met.”

If all goes to plan, Michael will be in his own home by Christmas and he dreams of a family reunion this festive season.

“I would like to make amends with my family. This is my last chance and I’m going to make the most of it. I’m like a cat with nine lives and I don’t know how many I’ve left.”

Rural homelessness

Michael comes from a rural area, not far from Longford Town. He believes there should be centres for homeless people in every town in Ireland, as they are becoming more and more necessary as homelessness increases.

“There should be a homeless centre in every town in the country, because there are always reasons for people becoming homeless, like couples falling out,” outlines Michael.

While homelessness in Dublin is constantly in the public domain, Michael knows first-hand that the capital is not the only place affected and that people in rural Ireland are suffering too.

“People are still homeless out there and just because they’re not on the streets doesn’t mean that they’re not homeless, they could be squatting with lads.”

Michael admits that he has slept rough in the past and highlights that homelessness in rural areas has fallen too far under the radar, to the extent that it is putting people’s lives at risk.

“I’ve slept rough loads of times, it drains the life out of you. I’m used to getting to know someone and the next thing they’re gone.”

Having been on social housing waiting lists since his late teens, Michael has ventured down every possible route in an attempt to be housed. For him, there is nothing more crippling than seeing buildings boarded up and vacant.

“Waiting is the most frustrating thing, you see places that are idle and boarded up. It’s such a waste.”

Going forward, Michael hopes that the homelessness situation in rural Ireland will improve and that people outside of Dublin will get more recognition, because unlike Michael, not everyone is fortunate enough to get a house to call home.

Hidden Heroes

Arriving at St Martha’s, Irish Country Living is met by Edel Croghan, who is in the middle of a 22-hour shift. The homeless hostel has 11 units for men, and next door’s Bethany House has 19 beds for women and children. Inside and out, it looks very much like a normal Irish bungalow.

But what sets it apart from a typical home, is just that: it is not a home, just a temporary one. However, in this temporary home, sterling work is done. Manager Joe Finnegan outlines that the aim of St Martha’s is to provide emergency accommodation and, in turn, to help residents achieve independent living. This is done by linking them with the relevant services; counselling, addiction services, homelessness liaison officers – the list goes on.

“Most of the guys are coming in with addiction,” explains Joe. “The best way to achieve independent living is to try and control that addiction. Try and get them to live their own life again – that is the key really. Empower people, don’t dictate. A lot of times all they need is a small bit of guidance and a small bit of support. Support and guidance is the biggest thing, especially with addiction or mental health problems.”

Although the homelessness crisis in rural Ireland may not be the same size or scale as that of Dublin, it is still a prevalent societal issue. Joe believes that homelessness is not treated as seriously in rural areas, because it is not as visible as in Dublin.

“Rural homelessness is on the agenda, but it’s not high-profile, because it’s not that visible. Homelessness in Dublin is visible, but hidden homelessness in rural areas is unbelievable. The amount of people that aren’t even covered in the stats. People that are couch surfing, living with friends and relations – it is crazy, especially younger people.”

Rental crisis

The Daft.ie report released for the third quarter of 2017 shows an already established trend – higher rents and the lessening availability of rental accommodation across the whole country. From the third quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2017, rents increased by 9% in Co Longford. For those at risk of homelessness these figures do not bode well. For those already homeless, it inches independent living further and further out of reach.

“Everyone says Dublin, Dublin, Dublin, but even down the country rents have gone up,” says Joe.

“For a two-bedroom apartment in Longford, you are talking about €600-€650. Landlords are looking for a month in advance and a month’s deposit, that is €1,300. For a guy who is on €193 a week, it’s very hard to save €1,300.”

On the subject of rental accommodation, Niamh Randall, head of policy and communications at Simon Communities of Ireland, states that while disturbingly high rental prices make it increasingly difficult to find suitable accommodation for those who are homeless, landlords are not helping the situation either.

“It’s very often a landlord’s market out there. While it’s illegal to discriminate against someone receiving housing benefit, there are other mechanisms used. For example, asking for three months’ rent in advance. People on housing benefit or earning a low income can’t provide that, or looking for a previous landlord reference or an employer reference. Again, people who have had a long experience of homelessness are probably not going to be able to provide those things.”

Zero homelessness

Francis Doherty, head of communications at Peter McVerry Trust, explains that people become homeless in rural Ireland for much the same reasons they do in larger urban centres; alcohol addiction, drug addiction, domestic violence and family breakdown. From his experience, Francis says people often tend to stay in homelessness for longer in rural Ireland, because there is not the same network of supports available that there would be in cities.

In relation to rural areas, Francis feels zero homelessness should be, and is, an attainable goal: “We don’t get enough reports, detail or attention paid to the issue. We are not really being ambitious enough as regards rural homelessness. Rural homelessness could be resolved in a matter of months if the will was there.

“Look at Rebuilding Ireland, the government’s housing strategy and read the section on homelessness – you would struggle to find anything that is specific to addressing rural homelessness. It’s such a shame, because it could be dealt with in a matter of months.

“If you look at a county like Mayo, there are only 12 people homeless. There surely is the capacity to house 12 people before Christmas in Mayo. There are not going to be that many new cases, because the figures are fairly steady. We should get to the point where we have two or three houses ready to go.” CL

*Pseudonym being used