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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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Sounds like a pretty decent speech to be honest.
@Tricia G: Took the words straight out of my mouth Tricia.
@Tricia G: he doesn’t write them, it’s put up in front and he reads it that’s all, it’s a spoof, it’s politics
@Slim Browne:
biden doesnt know what day of the week he has,never mind why he came to ireland…
@John O’sullivan: Well at least he’s remembered he was here,hadn’t a clue where he was last when a kid asked him a week ago..progress.
@John O’sullivan: Are there STILL people trying this absolute muck? I feel confident in saying “Sleepy” Joe Biden is likely a lot smarter than you, John.
@John O’sullivan: This is the same Joe Biden who condemned Reagan’s neutral stance in the Falklands War, was the strongest supporter of the UK and Mrs. Thatcher in the US and even introduced a resolution to the floor backing the UK. He will say whatever his minders think will get him a few more votes. He had to be reminded by a kid one week after the visit that he had been in Ireland. The love for him in Ireland is strange given the evidence that is coming out week after week of the corruption he and his family are involved in. And that’s before trying to decipher what the hell he is talking about in his speeches. If the orange one was half as mentally deficient during his term the left would’ve been screaming for him to be removed as unfit for office.The US is screwed.
@Richard Keogh: dat 100% lying DNA strain goes a long, long way in de United Sham (that is) America.
@John O’sullivan: Do you think Trump is any better, not much younger you know and fatter!
@Richard Keogh: You’ve twisted it. He condemned the Galtierri junta for being the aggressor and invading the Falklands. He didn’t call for the US to militarily involve itself, only to issue a resolution to publicly claim that Argentina invading the islands to settle a dispute was wrong. He was proved right, it was a miscalculation by Argentina which toppled Galtierri in the end
@Richard Keogh: By the way, it has been argued that if the US / Reagan had taken a more diplomatically robust stance on the Falklands, Galtierri would have settled sooner for a diplomatic settlement instead it descended into an armed conflict that resulted in a lot young Argentinian conscripts losing their lives and the Galtierri junta being toppled soon after.
@Joe Philips: i would be surprised if the guy could recite the alphabet without a cheat card or teleprompter
@John O’sullivan: If you’re talking about Biden, then you obviously haven’t been paying attention
Comparing President Joe’s speech to the hour of angry whinging lies the orange thing came out with on cnn , I can’t see how anyone with an ounce of integrity could justify voting for trump
A wonderful President- saying it as it is. Without him, the British Government would have trod roughshod over the GFA.
@Paul Whitehead: 100%
Ha ha straight to d point Joe
Can’t wait to see the reacion of the UK media…
Poor man was asked a week later where was his last trip a road was, he hadn’t a clue, totally oblivious to the fact he visited Ireland. There should be an age limit put on roles of such responsibility, the fact an 80yr old can be president is insane
@Bald And Broke: I thought President Michael D Higgins was really popular though?
He’s out of his mind, this fella.
@Ordinary Bloke: Regarding this topic of Brexit and Ireland what did Biden specifically say that sounds like he’s out of his mind? Seems like a very reasoned and cogent position on policy to me.
I love you President Joe Biden. You are a legend.
Good job he didn’t go to Coppers
@Joe Philips: Personally I’m not a fan of Trump as a human being or his brand of politics myself, but being an Irish citizen I certainly don’t have the same rabid obsession with American politics and Imported American political ideas that people like yourself seem to Joe, as I think much of the time they have no relevance to Ireland or Irish society whatsoever. However I do understand the importance of the role of an American president in what is a very volatile time globally.
On that note I think that Joe Biden seems to be suffering from the onset of senile dementia which given the aforementioned global volatility could perhaps be very dangerous. So please can you explain to me what president Biden is doing both globally or domestically that would elevate him to a level of greatness above all other presidents before him going back to Lincoln? And if you could do so without mentioning Donald Trump, telling lies which we know you have a tendency toward and all while staying on point, that would be great. Thanks
@Zim Zimma: I’d be happy to… once you properly explain this: “On that note I think that Joe Biden seems to be suffering from the onset of senile dementia”. This better be good. Zero points for vague nonsense.
@Joe Philips: A week after his visit to Ireland, his ‘coming home’ trip he completely forgot he was here. Also at the same event, he could remember how many and where his grandkids live. Sound like dementia to me.
@Ian Hoey: *couldn’t
@Joe Philips: A week after his ‘coming home’ visit to Ireland, he forgot he was even here. Also at the same event, he couldn’t remember how many grandkids he had and where they live. Sounds like dementia to me.
@Ian Hoey: 3 attempts at a 3-line post, Ian? Looks like dementia to me.
The best President America has had since Lincoln. From an Irish POV, He’s the best they’ve ever had. Come at me, Trumpets!
@Joe Philips: Great fishing sir.
@GT McMahon: Nope. Factual info.
@Joe Philips: Have you suffered a serious head trauma recently by any chance?
@Joe Philips: I didn’t vote for him, but I agree with him here.
Sleepy Joe, you have some neck!
You came to Ireland on a very expensive jolly.
Newsflash! Ireland has no nearer country in culture or similarities than the UK. We aren’t that different from them, whether you like it or not. Biden is a cabbage.
@Paulco: Then it’s pretty impressive for a ‘cabbage’ to have had such an impact on UK policy wrt Brexit and the the Windsor Agreement. Whether you like it or not.
Legend!
So his great-great grandfather was a supervisor on famine relief works. This section of Irish history has been erased from popular culture. I wonder why?
@Jack Creegan: how many greats are you going back? Maybe you can go back further to find a great ancestor he had that was a Viking that pillaged an Irish monastery round tower ?
Ya gotta wonder what the Irish reaction would be if Mr Biden (or Mr Trump) said he was here to make sure the “Paddy’s or the Mick’s behave themselves!
To The Journal, before taking this comment down, remember that you ran with this, not me, I am just looking at this from outside the Irish perspective.
I despise ageism which is so often the only “ism” that is fine by certain types who would burn you at the stake for any other “ism”. Sadly though I really do think it’s ridiculous that a man of 80 is feasible to continue in a role as demanding as that (regardless of whether you think they really make any decisions). It’s a pity as I think people tend to overlook the fact he is quite possibly the best friend Ireland has ever had in the White House.
@Niallus: The irony of this comment. Are you completely unaware you’re peddling that exact same “ism” that you’re complaining about? You’ve said nothing about any of his policies or given any example of any bad decisions he’s made… just “Sadly though I really do think it’s ridiculous that a man of 80 is feasible to continue…”
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here.
@Joe Philips: Because of his inability to communicate in cohernt sentences? The mans public addresses keep descending into complete incohernt nonsense and I’m not talking about his political positions (which hopefully you can tell me about) simply his ability to use the English language. Time will tell if he is diagnosed with dementia, I think he will be, but it’s all beside the point, just a way for you to deflect from my questions on your usual hyperbolic nonsense statements in your usual dishonest way.
So now your turn. See if you can be honest for a short period and stick to the point. What has he done domestically or internationally that has made him Americas greatest president since Lincoln in your opinion, without mentioning Donald trump and sticking to the point…….and go
@Zim Zimma: More people working in the US than at any time under any US President. Most jobs created, more people with health coverage than ever before, executive orders protecting reproductive rights, environmental and climate change policies, infrastructure investment, the “inflation reduction act “ that gives tax credits to US companies to manufacture in the US instead of abroad (the one the EU doesn’t like). Stock market DOW higher than under any previous President. Much stronger US dollar in decades. I am not a registered Democrat but so far he’s been doing really well.
@Diaspora’d: he also just raised the debt ceiling again, when he should have taxed the wealthy instead
Raising the debt ceiling means he can spend even more while putting the country into further debt!
@bernard berry: The US debt ceiling is legislated by Congress, the President can’t unilaterally raise the debt ceiling without it being approved by Congress. With a divided house and senate there’s always a compromise.
@Diaspora’d: okay, but I think you escaped the actual point!
Biden = A rotten planter.
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