The
Capuchin Day Centre provides vital respite for the homeless, as Sean
Palmer discovers
Across
Irish society many are feeling the strain of the
recession tightening its noose around the neck of the economy. There is
constant discussion and analysis of personal and national cutbacks in
spending
from the leery days of the Celtic Tiger. The Fianna Fáil led Government
has had
to implement cutbacks across the spectrum to try and restart the
economy and to
ensure that future generations aren’t straddled with debt and the
burdens of
excess by the ‘Celtic Cubs’.
The
poor and the marginalized in Irish society are the ones
affected most by the cutbacks in spending and the wider recession. The
difference between this group and others within is that they never
experienced
the benefits of the Celtic Tiger, yet they are being now made bear the
brunt of
its legacy.
It
seems that the death of the infamous Tiger and subsequent
recession has led to an increase in homelessness and people begging on
our
streets. The Capuchin Day Centre provides an important social outlet,
without
which, these people would be truly lost. It is a discreet and welcoming
centre
nestled in between legal offices and behind the Four Courts just off
Dublin’s
quays. The Capuchin Day Centre offers the poor and marginalized a meal
and a
range of services from a doctor to a social worker, or a shower and a
change of
clothes, seven days a week. These are the real victims of recessionary
Ireland.
This sector within society has been hit with cutbacks in Government
funding and
this has led to Dublin’s homeless population being placed in a more
volatile
position than ever before.
The
centre was set up in 1969 by Brother Kevin Crowley, a
native of West Cork. One is struck by the Brother’s sense of fairness
and
justice for the people he helps and works with. He speaks with passion
and
clarity about the issues homeless people face. “There is simply not
enough
rehabilitation facilities available for people on the streets.
Arresting them
for drinking on the streets is no good, because prison does not
function as a
form of rehabilitation and will just lead to the people being back out
on the
street.”
The
centre was established to serve as an outlet for the men
who had to vacate the Morning Star Hostel and its objective was to give
these
men a sanctuary away from the harshness of Dublin’s streets for a few
hours
during the day. In its maiden year the centre catered for 50 men, today
it
serves 200 breakfasts and 500 dinners to people from all walks of life.
The
ethos of the staff and volunteers is to give their best
to the service users and to help them as much as possible. It costs
€1.2
million to run this vital service. The running costs are covered by a
combination of Government funding, private fundraising and donations.
Brother
Kevin employs a staff of 10 to help him run the centre and this is
supplemented
by a huge number of volunteers who work tirelessly on a daily basis. It
is an
incredible place and is non-judgmental towards any of those it serves.
Brother
Kevin and his staff try to make it, “a place where users are respected
and
received with dignity.
“We
don’t ask people lots of questions because their position is hard
enough
without being burdened with questions”
Those
in attendance at the centre have, like others,
suffered the backlash of the country's economic decline. Two years ago
250
people collected weekly food packages from the centre. A meandering
queue can
now be seen forming on Bow Street each Wednesday morning, where up to
1000
people gratefully receive food parcels.
The
service users are a diverse mix of Irish and foreign
immigrants. A large percentage of
immigrants use the facilities while they get on their feet
in Ireland. Staff
at the centre describe these immigrants as being very genuine, with a
number of
them returning to the centre—upon getting employment—to make donations.
According
to Brother Kevin the reasons behind homelessness
have changed since he set up the centre in 1959. Now drugs as well as
alcohol
have become an issue but alcoholism is still a scourge. A worrying
trend has
developed where chronic alcoholics have resorted to drinking hand
sanitizer
which is pure alcohol that “drives them wild” according to staff
working with
the Capuchins.
Unique
in so many ways; it is run by a community of people
who simply want to help and give their best to those most vulnerable in
Irish
society. While a recession has hit and the repercussions have been felt
throughout the country, donations continue to flow from all corners, to
this
centre, and many more like it.
It
is through unheralded work such as that done by the
Capuchin monks and their staff that will ensure that the bottom does
not fall
out of Irish society. There work ensures that the poor and marginalized
will
have a voice within Irish society and their needs will be met in so far
as
possible.
nuptosho@gmail.com
