There is an easy-held perception of homelessness that it comes about after a longrunning series of catastrophic events; that one’s life must have been on a spiral before they land at rock bottom; without a place to call their own, or a light to guide them in the tumble downwards.
However, that is not always the case. For many for whom life seems to be motoring along just fine, it can take just the slightest change in direction to throw everything out of sync. A loss of a job, a spurt of debt, a loss of confidence, the breakdown of a relationship and suddenly, the factors that lead to homelessness are lining up and falling into place like reverse dominoes, flattening your self belief.
At times like this, the foundations of one’s existence begin to fissure; the more you lean on them for support this way and that, the more they crumble, until you are left floundering in the rubble of the life you thought you had, the life you wanted.
It can be easy to lose hope, to believe that there is nobody there to offer a warm shoulder, a strong arm to pull you up, an ear to hear your woes, and a mouth to advocate for you.
Thankfully, here in Galway we are blessed with several such organisations, including Galway Simon, COPE Galway, and Vincent de Paul. There is no way you can ever do too much for these groups. No gesture is ever too big. At this time of the year, especially when the advancing early clouds of nighttime accentuate everything.
In this week’s paper, we have an excellent artlcle on Page 46 by Karen Feeney of Galway Simon which outlines the work they do; and others on pages 40 and 42 which look at the work of COPE Galway and ALONE.
These are all noble organisations, and for this reason, the Advertiser’s latest publication has been printed with the aim of helping the city’s homeless. The Advertiser existed for more than fifty years, to journal the bright lights of the city; to highlight what is good, and to attract people here to work, to live, to study and to create. We have been cheerleaders for all that is good and honest about Galway.
I know myself the great draw of Galway, but I also know what it is like to walk these streets without a bob in your pocket that holds your tattered dog-eared dream; with a pain in your heart at being invisible in a place full of people. To feel like an outsider in a crowd. And it is an experience that comes to mind every year at this time.
Our latest publication, a wonderful coffee-table book The Old Galway Diary, is an excellent compilation of some of the priceless Old Galway/Galway Diary columns that have been penned by Ronnie O’Gorman and Tom Kenny over the last half-century in the Advertiser.
It is a wonderful Christmas gift — one I am going to give myself and others in fact. But by buying this book, you are also helping Galway Simon continue their great work. Check out Kenny’s, Charlie Byrnes, Dubray and even the Advertiser office to get a copy for the Galwayperson in your life.
Tomorrow Friday, the Cope Sleepout happens — so give generously to those who are taking part. By helping these charities, we are arming those who can see the invisible hurt and start to reconstruct hopes and dreams.
