Case study: ‘I just want the quiet qualities of life – a job and a safe place’

Lewis Davis (23), from Coolock, Dublin, has been homeless since he was 16 following the break-up of his family.

He spent the first two years sleeping on a friend’s couch – “my friend’s mam basically took me in”. At 18 he put his name down for local authority housing and also looked for rented accommodation but has never been able to afford it.

Being under 25 he is not entitled to a full-rate jobseekers’ allowance. He gets €100 a week, which he collects on Fridays.

He pays €35 a week to his homeless accommodation and €15 in maintenance for his son (5) which leaves him with €50 or €7.15 a day “to feed myself, educate myself and seek employment” .

The idea of trying to run a home – even if he could find one – on €100 a week “is just impossible”, while few potential employers have considered his applications without a permanent address .

He has stayed in numerous hostels, some of which he describes as “horrific”.

"You wouldn't sleep. There'd be fellas coming in with Stanley knives, saying 'give me your runners', 'give me your phone'. The last one I was in was a 'wet' hostel where they let people drink and take other stuff."

He does not use drugs, and has seen the destruction they have wreaked on homeless young people.

Stable

“My key-worker there got me into the accommodation I’m in now. It’s run by Crosscare and is the best I’ve been in. It’s stable and the people there really are trying to help me.”

He prefers not to go to the soup kitchen, saying: “You bump into the wrong kind of people, if you understand me. I really want to get out of that ‘homeless’ part of society. It drags you down. I just want to be part of the normal part of society.”

He has tried to get work. In May last year he was called for interview with a department store. “But I hadn’t the required attire for interview. I asked the community welfare officer in the homeless persons’ unit for help, but I was refused because eight months previously I received €100 for winter clothes.”

Construction work

On another occasion he looked into construction work.

“But a Safe pass is required and that’s €90. I asked the community welfare officer and I was told I’d need a letter from the employer guaranteeing the job.”

He is about the complete a five-week placement he got through the City of Dublin Education and Training Board as an office maintenance worker.

“I’m hoping, with a good reference, I’ll be able to get a job. I just want the quiet qualities of life – a job and a safe place I can have my son to stay.

“It’s very hard to stay strong and not let it get you down. Homelessness has taken the best years of my life.” .