DIAL House is a Limerick residential service run by Novas Initiatives that accommodates young care leavers who are at risk of falling into the cycle of homelessness. Alan Jacques visited the Ennis Road facility.
(pic: Brendan Gleeson)
LOCATED off the leafy suburbs of the Ennis Road, DIAL House looks like any other family home in any other quiet residential neighbourhood.
But there is nothing ordinary about this life-changing service, which was first opened by Novas Initiatives, the largest provider of homeless services in the Mid-West region, back in 2006.
An extraordinary six-bed residential facility, a stone’s throw from the city centre, it accommodates care leavers, some of whom have learning disabilities, who are at risk of homelessness. Residents are all aged between 18 and 24, with most of the estimated 100 youngsters that have passed through its doors in the last eight years, not being dealt the easiest starts in life.
DIAL House provides a safe, home-like environment for care leavers who are otherwise “dumped on society” and left to fend for themselves, despite not being ready for this transition. An individualised care plan is devised for each client, based on their needs and personal history which takes account of learning difficulties, past drug use, antisocial behaviour and exposure to abuse or violence.
According to head of Novas Initiatives’ homeless services, Anne Cronin, the service was set up to “mirror a home environment and not an institution” after identifying an urgent need in Limerick to develop a specialised service for young care leavers.
“The young people who live in DIAL House for the duration of the two-year programme would otherwise have been accommodated in larger hostel-style, low-threshold facilities, unsuitable to their needs,” Ms Cronin explained.
She pointed out that young residents, many who have been in and out of institutions and care homes their entire lives, do not yet have the skills to live independently.
Most have grown accustomed to having things done for them while in care. Simple things, that we might take for granted, such as boiling a kettle, washing clothes, filling out an application form or preparing a meal, can also prove challenging for some when they turn 18 and are suddenly faced with the big bad outside world all on their lonesome.
“It is increasingly harder to find a place to live because of the rent caps and lack of single bed accommodation. Bedsits are a thing of the past too. There is also the issue of aftercare as many care leavers find they are not equipped to do things like fill out social welfare payment forms or secure accommodation and are in desperate need of encouragement and life skills training,” she explained.
DIAL, which stands for ‘developing independent active living’, offers a two-year life-skills programme to residents, teaching them skills in cooking, cleaning, paying bills and money management. The scheme also works with external agencies to provide professional courses on issues such as self-harm and drug use.
Further education is at the core of the DIAL ethos with positive peer learning and in-house training central to the process. Novas staff help residents identify suitable courses and assist them with the application process, while personal development is based on holistic care giving and building trust and engagement with staff.
The Limerick Post recently visited DIAL House to meet the service’s residents and staff.
As the front door opens, I am greeted by the warm, friendly smile of acting coordinator Grainne Madigan. Hot on her heels is Rocky, a sociable Jack Russell who also resides at DIAL House. After taking a curious sniff of my well-trod shoes, the rotund and ever so contented canine quickly loses interest and returns to his cot under the hall table for a doze.
“Come in, come in. Will you have a coffee?” Grainne enquires enthusiastically as she welcomes me inside.
Once in the front door the warm, homely atmosphere strikes me instantly. My preconceived perceptions had set me up for a cold and clinical penitential environment reeking of industrial-strength cleaning solutions, but surprise, surprise, I am instead greeted by the welcoming blast of the house’s central heating system, a friendly tail-wagging pet and framed pictures peering down from the walls of smiling and evidently happy young people.
It feels like home. Residents and staff are sitting round the kitchen table having their morning coffee and nattering as I arrive.
Grainne confesses as she leads me into the living room that, like most houses, getting her young ward out of bed in the mornings can be the greatest challenge. The latest pop hits are banging out of the TV screen in the corner but I am more distracted by a print on the wall, which reads ‘remember as far as anyone knows we are a nice normal family’.
First impressions certainly paint such a picture. DIAL House appears to be a warm, homely and safe environment. The rain is pelting down outside and as I settle into the comfy couch I think that I wouldn’t mind sticking around here for a bit myself to seek refuge from the elements.
“Yeah, they are all well capable of getting up and getting out in the morning but they need a little encouragement. It can be chaotic at times,” Grainne confesses as she turns down the TV.
“There are three boys and three girls here at the minute. They have huge energy, but they are like brothers and sisters. They rely on each other.”
“There’s about a four-week settling in period but after that you can really see the changes in them and they start to burst with confidence. They treat each other and the house well; they treat it with respect. It is life-changing for them,” she said.
Staff reside at DIAL House 24/7 and the bond they have with the residents is evident. For the most part, residents do most of the cooking under the tutelage of the staff, however one of the weekly highlights is ‘Fry Friday’ where staff members bake bread and cook an Irish breakfast for their hungry horde. Again on Sundays, staff also dish up a roast dinner and ex-residents are invited back to DIAL for a meal and to catch up with old friends. Another wonderful initiative at this Ennis Road sanctuary is its ‘befriending service’.
Novas Initiatives’ communication and development coordinator, Chris O’Connor explains how clients are matched up with volunteers.
“This buddy system helps tackle isolation and helps build communication skills. Human contact is important and by simply going into a coffee shop and placing an order, they are learning valuable life skills,” he said.
While many of the young residents at DIAL House may have learning disabilities, intelligence is not an issue. One young man I met, who is staying at DIAL House for respite after an illness, is currently studying law in third level.
Another young female resident told me that she found herself in trouble with the law when she started binge drinking at the age of 16. She had dropped out of school and was thrown out of home by her mother. After a period “couch-surfing” with friends she went to Novas for help and was placed in DIAL House.
The 19-year-old is now in a training course and “looking forward to the future”.
“I see a future now. I have direction. I want to get my own apartment and make money for myself,” the Limerick girl revealed.
“I am used to being here now and it’s getting better. I didn’t know what to expect at first. There’s a good atmosphere even if sometimes there’s rows over the TV and the Playstation,” she said.
DIAL also offers an out-reach programme, for former clients living independently. There is an ever-increasing demand for this service with many care leavers living in precarious circumstances in the city. Much of this service is provided on a voluntary basis although Novas is currently developing a more structured approach to supporting this group. Staff provide practical and emotional supports by extending the in-house life-skills programme to ensure clients are maintaining their accommodation and actively engaging in society in a positive manner.
In the past two years, Novas Initiatives have also worked with over 25 people in the community as part of DIAL House’s outreach work. The recent more structured approach will grow over the coming months with a focus on those leaving state care.
Julie (23) who left DIAL House last month dropped in to say hello during my recent visit. I ask her how she is finding living independently?
“I am happy but nervous. I made lots of good friends here and learned how to cook, which I had never done before..
“I really enjoyed my time here and I do miss it. I come back to see my friends regularly. We’re like a family,” she said.
As I depart DIAL House an apt quote from T.S. Eliot comes to mind, “Home is where one starts from”. This is certainly true of this extraordinary Novas-run service.
