Anthony's story highlights some of the obstacles faced by people who are left without a home, according to Focus Ireland.
Anthony, who is almost 19, is the oldest of five children. The family lived in a local authority house in Dublin's inner city for most of his life.
However, his father was abusive and violent towards his mother, and there were frequent rows. Matters came to a head when Anthony was 15 years old. His father was sent to prison for assaulting his mother.
His mother became increasingly frightened of her husband's return to the home and when he was due for release from prison she left.
When she looked for emergency hostel accommodation with her children, Anthony discovered he would not be allowed to stay in the hostel because he was too old.
He was told he would have to seek accommodation in a men's hostel. He secured accommodation but, as he was just 15, he found the environment frightening. He was unnerved by the frequent fights between the residents. Eventually he left and went to live on the streets.
Anthony met other teenagers, and a group of them starting living in a squat. Like the other teenagers, he became involved in drugs and petty theft. When he came to Focus Ireland's coffee shop one day, he was referred to the Loft. This is Focus Ireland's drop-in centre for people under 18 years. Staff at the Loft worked with Anthony on his drug problem, and for 2½ years he attended the Loft nearly every day.
When Anthony was 17, he was offered a place on Focus Ireland's "Off the Streets" programme. This provides transitional residential accommodation for people under 18 and liaises closely with the health board. This did not work out as Anthony could not settle in the programme and he started living rough again. Then last year he started attending the Extension, a Focus Ireland day centre for homeless people between 18 and 25.
Anthony worked on a one-to-one basis with a staff member who gave him advice and support and helped him deal with other organisations.
He was then offered accommodation in Stanhope Green, on Dublin's north side. The Focus Ireland accommodation scheme provides transitional and long-term accommodation for families and young people.
That worked out well, and Anthony is now living in a bedsit. He still meets with Focus Ireland staff for advice and counselling, but for the first time since he was 15 he has a place to call home.
A Focus Ireland spokesman said his case showed what could be done when the necessary support services were in place and the various State and voluntary services worked together.
