A counsellor who was a homeless child yesterday saw the project he founded come to fruition when a house for children living on the streets was opened in Dublin.
Mr Michael Joyce, founder of the St Jude's Trust for Homeless Children, who worked at raising funds from private donations, was present yesterday when the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, officially opened the home.
Mr Joyce said the value of the home was £1 million and he had already received £80,000 for his next project. "We do not owe a penny to anybody," he said. St Jude's Trust had only two fulltime staff and a small team of volunteers.
The home, in Richmond Road, Drumcondra, will be for 12 to 14-year-olds. One floor will accommodate girls and another boys. There will be accommodation for 12 children, but as there are 16 bedrooms, there may be some facility for emergency cases. There is also a variety of living rooms with special areas for education and counselling.
The project was created from private donations of cash and furniture, much unpaid work, help from business people, People in Need and the goodwill of neighbours. There are no mortgages, no debts and no public money was used.
The trust members and the Eastern Health Board are now nearing agreement on a joint venture for the future staffing and maintenance of the home. The health board will provide 14 staff, and two will be on duty around the clock.
The Department of Education has also agreed to join St Jude's to ensure access to specialised tuition, education and training for those children who cannot fit into the local school system.
Mr Joyce said he became homeless when he was very young. There was alcoholism in his family and he ended up drinking as well. He had not touched drink since he was 16 and for the past 18 years he has been a counsellor to children and their families.
St Jude's has a number of patrons including the Taoiseach, the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, and RTE's Derek Davis.
Mr Davis said yesterday that Mr Joyce had suffered much deprivation as a homeless child but got his life together and had worked tirelessly for homeless children and at fund-raising for the project. The trust was totally non-political and non-sectarian, Mr Davis said.
Mr Joyce yesterday thanked those who had supported St Jude's Trust and told those present that its second project would be starting immediately. He was asking for the support of 2,000 companies to provide a donation of £100 each.
The second project is for another home on the other side of Dublin.