ON A CHILLY Monday evening on Thomas Street in Limerick City, Limerick Post reporter Andrew Clair joined a dedicated group of volunteers for what might appear to be just the handing out of hot drinks and food in the gentle glow of a shop’s coloured lights, but is in reality a vital social lifeline for people in need.
The harsh realities of living on the streets were unveiled in conversation with the homeless people who attended the weekly charitable drive, with volunteers hanging out cling-filmed sandwiches and bags of crisps to those gathering around.
Although the Shannonside weather was windy and cold, the group of volunteers and homeless huddled together steeped the scene in a cosy warmth.
One Limerick woman painted a harrowing, violent picture of her life on the streets.
“You get beaten when you’re asleep. At nighttime, I was kicked in the face,” the woman, who asked not to be named, told the Limerick Post.
She described a life of “sleeping on the roads, being kicked in the face by bullies passing by”, adding that, for her, it feels as if there’s “no escape”.
Another woman currently experiencing homelessness, Mary Delaney, told this reporter that she often feels as though the legal system doesn’t take crimes against the homeless seriously, making life on the streets even harder to pull back from.
“If you get robbed in Limerick, it’s all down to drugs,” she said.
Tracie Trayers, a volunteer at the weekly gathering, lamented what she sees as systemic inaction on the part of the Gardaí in Limerick.
She feels that “we need more Gardaí in the city, and for the guards to actually be able to do their job, because their hands are tied from the top”.
‘It sticks with them for life’
Tracie pointed to the city’s abundance of derelict buildings, which she says “should be homes for homeless individuals and families”.
“It’s completely unfair to children. It’s traumatic, and it sticks with them their whole life.”
Mary Delaney, a mother herself, agreed, explaining how children, especially those with special needs, are often left without proper support when experiencing homelessness.
Limerick City and County Council has been working hard to crack down on dereliction in the face of the housing crisis. From 2018 to 2023, the Council has opened 819 derelict site cases, compulsorily acquiring 197 properties, 153 of which were residential.
Of those, 28 have been referred to the Housing Development Directorate for partial-refurbishment by the government to clean up any vacant sites.
The organiser of the weekly charity event, Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley, claims that prostitution among homeless women is rampant, with cars seen regularly pulling up late at night driven by men who offer drugs in exchange for sex.
“There’s a real industry feeding off addiction,” Cllr Beasley says.
Simon Mid West has said that crack cocaine addiction is playing a huge role in the increasing numbers of women left homeless, often feeling they have no choice but to turn to sex work to manage their addiction.
One man attending the gathering for some conversation and something to eat spoke about his battle with alcoholism, painting a picture of a vicious cycle of homelessness and substance abuse.
‘No more life’
After being released from prison, he told this reporter that he found himself without any form of support, finding himself “sent out with nowhere to go. So, you turn back into an alcoholic.”
Another 22-year-old homeless woman, who preferred not to be named, explained how drugs can offer a much needed sensation of warmth after being forced to wander the streets in freezing weather.
Through her experience in Limerick hostels, Mary Delaney says she sees many young people coming out of rehab, jail, or foster care with nowhere to go.
She believes there “should be more help on the streets for people”.
“There should be more hostels open for young people, especially for girls, young girls, coming out of rehab.”
“People come out of jail, come off foster care, then there’s nothing,” Mary said. “They have to go back on the streets again. That’s the life behind the drugs and drinking again. There’s no more life.”
