Most visitors to Sligo would never be aware of the existence of Shalomar House or its 17 residents. Located on a little-used, pot-holed road off a busier route leading to an industrial estate, it is well away from the centre of the town.
"The people here have nowhere else to go. They would not be able to get housing in the public or private sector because of their problems. They need sheltered housing," says the founder and manager of Shalomar House, Marie Finan, an Ursuline sister.
Having worked with the homeless in Sligo for many years, she says that although there may not be anybody actually sleeping rough, she believes homelessness is now a problem in every large urban centre. She knows of a number of squats in the town, and while Shalomar House is now full, if she had 10 more places she could fill them.
A growing problem, she says, is the number of separated men who face homelessness because of violent behaviour or addiction to alcohol, drugs or gambling.
Shalomar House is not as strict as other centres for the homeless in that it does not insist that residents have to be sober to be admitted. The policy is not to turn people away. Ms Finan, who formerly taught in a secondary school and in a third-level college, says the people at the house have experienced a world "totally alien" to the one where young people are educated and can achieve what society regards as success.
"When you listen to the stories of the people here, you realise that they never had a chance. They experienced appalling parenting, were neglected as children. They were not in any way part of the system."
She says she believes that some of the people at the house, whose ages range from 28 to 83, are so "wounded" that they will never be fully healed. Some have spent time in prison or in psychiatric hospitals.
There is only one woman among the 17 residents, although the house is equally open to both men and women. About 10 are long-term residents, while others come and go. Some live rough during the summer.
She says it is not realistic to expect some of them ever to be able to reach a stage where they could live independent lives. Counselling is provided, both by herself and another member of the five-person staff. "We try to reach out, to accept them, to walk with them and empower them as far as we can."
She says the residents are very aware that they have been left behind while the "Celtic Tiger economy rampages on without them" and she is angry over the recent Budget. "All these people were worth to Charlie McCreevy was £4," she says.
Organisations working with the homeless should be funded "very generously in a wealthy country for adequate staffing and counselling". But in contrast to the Government, individuals in the community were very supportive, she says. They were given gifts of turkeys, hams, cakes and plum puddings for the holiday season.
"I think the government system doesn't give a damn, maybe because we don't as individuals insist enough to politicians."
Knowing that they have been left behind is a burden for the residents. "They know they are not necessary, that they are not needed, and that is a terrible pain to bear, that you or I will never know. It is shocking pain not to be needed by anybody. They are people who don't matter," she says.
The house has been open for more than two years now, and is an excellent facility. All of the residents have a private room and there are communal living areas. People cook for themselves, although a number of meals are provided each week.
Shalomar House was established after Ms Finan asked Sligo Corporation to give her the derelict premises to set up a centre for the homeless. She and other members of the Finisklin Housing Association supervised its renovation with the help of a grant from the Department of the Environment.
Funding for running costs is provided by the North Western Health Board and the Department of the Environment, although a great deal of private fund-raising is also needed.
Ms Finan says the generosity of some local people meant she was able to buy new clothes for the residents for Christmas. Usually they could only provide second-hand clothing.
"We try to make it as respectful as possible. The important thing is that this is not an institution. This is a home for people who need a roof, shelter and space."
The "festive" season is not always an easy time. "Christmas and the New Year can be depressing for them. There is often a great silence here on those nights. The TV is on, showing a world of romance and money, but that is alien to the people here. They are thinking, or remembering what could have been. Usually people are very relieved when it is all over."