Fifty Years Rebuilding Lives

“I first became homeless in the 1980’s after my mother died. I couldn’t cope. Simon were always there for me. The Soup Run would stay in touch and make sure I had enough food and sleeping bags. I remember the day I realised that something had to change. I woke up one morning under a bush and I knew I had to do something. I had heard about the new Detox service being run by the Simon Community and decided to give it a try.

“I eventually got sober there and then I moved to one of Simon’s supported housing services. I’ve gotten the support I needed here to get my life back on track. Everyone helps each other out here. It’s a real community and we’re all good neighbours.”

“When I became homeless in 1999 the first words that came to me when I asked who was going to help us was Dublin Simon Community. What they do is they give you a lifeline. You’re still on the streets but you have someone who cares. The Simon Community is all about caring about people.

“The number of lives that they’ve saved is unbelievable, mine included. The respect that you lose, the dignity that you lose, they gradually give you a little bit back and you begin to feel that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Living on the streets, you don’t know from one end of the day to the other where you’re going to end up. Once it’s cold you try to find somewhere safe as well as somewhere that’s sheltered, as it could start raining. You also
need to be somewhere that Simon can find you in the morning.

“One day my social worker got in touch with the Simon Community and put my name forward for a place in their treatment and recovery services. I was nervous going in and it was a challenge every day, but that made me want to do it more. I was saying to myself ‘Yes, I’m going to do this.’ Simon services need to be seen to be appreciated, to see what they are doing for people. The Simon Community is a lifeline. In some cases, and in my own, it’s a matter of life and death.”

“When I contacted the Simon Community I was lost. They helped me so much. My case worker helped me find my ‘castle’ but it wasn’t just that. She helped me become someone. I was now a tenant, a person who mattered, an individual who had a place in society. I’ve been in my new home nearly six months and I love it.

“Dreams do come true. I take baby steps and the Simon Community take these steps with you. My life hasn’t been easy and I know there may still be dark days but I know there are people who care about me.”

“I spoke to a girl today who is a volunteer with the Simon Community. She gave some inspirational and real advice and I will continue to fight on. If I could give her an award for changing my life I would but I have nothing but my life that I owe to her. You have a very special girl working for you in the Simon Community and I hope you continue doing great work. A random act of kindness from a stranger has changed my life. The Simon Community do great work. Keep it up.”