Sr Abbie O’Sullivan SSC writes about her voluntary work at the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People in Dublin where everyone is welcome.
Walking through Dublin city centre in the month of December one could easily fool oneself into thinking that this is a wonderland where any expectation can be fulfilled. The multi-coloured streetlights are blinking and flashing. The vendors are shouting their wares. The atmosphere is electric. But the thought strikes me, “In January, this will all have faded away.”
Not too far away I arrive at my destination, the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People where I have been a volunteer for 10 years.
On this morning at the Centre, as on every other morning, about 300 homeless people of all ages, nationalities and religions are enjoying a little heat and a good wholesome breakfast. Everyone is here for the same reason – there is no room at the inn for poor, destitute people and at the Centre a hot breakfast is available. No judgements are made and no questions asked. All are equal and all are welcome. Every day, except Sundays and Christmas Day, about 350 homeless people come for breakfast.
Every day up to 500 homeless people come for a hot dinner. On Wednesdays, about 1,500 come for a bag of groceries. The queue begins around 6:00am. People come from the parks, the streets, shop doors, bus shelters or the hostels provided for the homeless. No one likes to stay too long in the hostels as they aren’t safe. Four or five can be put in one room and often they are robbed there or fights break out. The parks or streets are chosen in preference.
At 3:30pm the Centre closes and those still there have to leave and look for a safe place for the night. Street sleepers are very vulnerable. Jimmy is an elderly man who has seen better times. I saw him one day wrapped in his over-sized overcoat, an old soiled rucksack thrown over his shoulder. His face was puckered and unshaven but that didn’t hide the pain in his face or the tears in his tired eyes.
He told me the rucksack held his one possession - a folding-up tent. It was flimsy and I doubt it would have kept the wind or the rain out. He usually slept out in a park as he felt the streets were too dangerous. He told me that when he woke up there was a tear in his tent and his mobile phone - the one link he had with another human being - was missing. Also gone was the €20 note he had hidden in the seam of the tent. He said, “Sister, I don’t want anything from anyone. I’m just happy someone cares and was interested in my story. Thank you for listening.”
Sr Abbie O’Sullivan SSC is a teacher and personal counsellor by profession. She has taught in Ireland and been missioned in Hong Kong, Croatia and London. She now works in Dublin as a counsellor in a boys secondary school and part-time in the Capuchin Day Centre for homeless people.
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