'We’re human beings too': Man speaks of stark reality of being homeless in Cork city with a pregnant fiancée during Christmas

While Christmas is a time of joy for many people, one man has spoken to The Echo about the bleak reality of being homeless, along with his pregnant fiancée, and his cousin.

Their plight is a stark reminder of what life is like for people sleeping rough on the streets of Cork and the struggles they face every day.

Mark, a native of the city and regular user of the Cork Penny Dinners service, said that he does not know what to expect over the coming days.

“I’m homeless now about a year,” he said. 

“At the start, I was couch surfing, but you never want to overstay your welcome, and only for Caitríona Twomey [of Cork Penny Dinners], I would be at rock bottom.

“I used to be a professional body builder, like one of them strongmen fellas on the television.

“I was 26 stone, but then I fell in to addiction and I’ve lost 10 stone since.

“I fell in with the wrong circle, fell in to drug use, but I’m clean and sober now about 12 weeks. I go to Caitríona’s meetings every Tuesday and Thursday.”

“I have no clue what I want to do on Christmas Day, my family is showing me tough love, I will probably come down to Penny Dinners and have dinner with Caitríona, more than likely in the food hall.

“I’ll have my fiancée and cousin with me — she’s 15 weeks pregnant at the moment, she’s suffered from two miscarriages recently on the streets, so it’s tough going. We’re hoping this [baby] will be OK.

“It’s very depressing walking around town looking at everyone out Christmas shopping, and I can’t go Christmas shopping because our money just goes on food, it’s degrading.”

Pressure

Discussing the matter of safety following the death of his friend and fellow Penny Dinners service user Vanessa O’Callaghan, who was assaulted outside the Savoy in Cork city centre earlier this month, Mark said that he feels pressure to keep his family safe.

“Attacks on homeless people are definitely increasing, you have to be vigilant, you just feel like a bit of dirt. It’s very unsafe, when you’re in your sleeping bag, you’d have to carry a knife.

“As a man, you feel like a failure, people will pass you by and they laugh, and it’s awful.

“I’m ashamed to say it that I used to look down on homeless people too, I’d walk passed them, you wouldn’t even think they’re human, but when you’re in the situation yourself you think, am I invisible now?”

Not enough help

Asked if he believes there could be more done for those who are homeless, Mark said: “There is help there, but it’s just not enough. The minute the lights go out and it’s dark, you’re on your own.

“I’m not a politician, but we’re human beings too, I would appeal to the Government to deal with the dereliction. We could do with extra funding for services, to get extra beds.

“I’m hoping to get referred to a treatment centre soon, I was put on methadone and I felt that I was just swapping one addiction for another, so I went cold turkey.

“If you get through treatment, you’d get housed, but with my fiancée and cousin, it’s hard to break away, we have a bond. I’d prefer her to get treatment first and then I’d go and my cousin.

“You have to try and stay positive as well, but at the end of the day I don’t know where I’m going to be sleeping for the night.

“To the homeless people out there, keep strong, don’t fall into addiction, come to meetings, help each other out, and to other people out there, don’t look down at us, respect one another as human beings, you never know what can happen — I never thought I’d be here.”

• To donate to Cork Penny Dinners, visit: https://corkpennydinners.org.