Week 21 - Put together a package and give it to a homeless person.

As part of the 52 cards, my mum suggested that I put together a package of stuff for a homeless person. I'd neglected the cards for a good while for one reason or another but a chance meeting with someone at a blogging event in Galway put them back on the agenda. I'm still not sure how it came up in conversation but she mentioned that she'd been in Dublin a few weeks beforehand and took a notion whilst waiting for a bus to sit down and chat to a homeless man sitting on O'Connell Bridge.

His name was Gerard from Meath and he'd been sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin for over a year. Initially reluctant to even make eye contact, he slowly opened up to her. His story was one of personal and family tragedy but he seemed to be a decent, smart young man. As soon as I'd heard about Gerard I was determined to put together the package and try to find him. I didn't know him from the next person but from what I'd heard, he seemed to be as worthy a recipient as any.

I initially thought of doing something like a lunchbox of stuff but quickly figured that that wouldn't really be of much use so I changed tack and set about putting together something a little more useful; socks, gloves, hats, thermal underwear, some toiletries and a jacket which I got free from a really generous guy in a shop in a shopping arcade off Henry St. (name escapes me!).

I hadn't got a clue how I'd get in touch with Gerard so after keeping an eye out on the streets (and O'Connnell Bridge) for a couple of days I figured there must be a better way. I called into the Dublin Simon Community accommodation in Harcourt St. who gave me a number for the Central Placement Service (CPS). I gave them a call and put me in touch with the Focus Ireland Outreach Team who do incredible work every night in walking the streets giving out food, sleeping bags, medical attention and if possible shelter to those in need. They knew of Gerard but he hadn't checked in with their services for at least a month.

I decided to leave the package with them in case he came back and if he didn't come back within a month to give it to someone they feel is most in need. The people working with the likes of Focus Ireland and The Simon Community are incredible. They walk the streets every night with little or no thanks looking after some of our society's most vulnerable members.

Coming up to Christmas, even with all the lights, noise and hustle and bustle, it's impossible to ignore the fact that hundreds of people sleep rough under the stars of our cities and towns every night. Some of these people are the victims of circumstances of their own making. Many are simply unlucky and stuck in a vicious spiral that they can't get out of.

Regardless of how they got there, the reality is there are far too many people on our streets. One is too many. Rough sleeping has increased seven fold in Cork in the last 3 years alone. I understand my ramblings may be simplistic and probably misguided but I don't care... For years our government have thrown OUR money at banks and bankers who have been allowed make f**k up after f**k up with complete impunity yet there isn't enough money to address the homeless crisis.

A rant from an individual isn't going to help anything but it does make my blood boil and I for one would much prefer my tax money to go towards putting a roof over someone like Gerard's head than keeping a very expensive roof over the heads of those who least deserve them.