Believe in People - Life Stories

These are stories from people who have used our services.

Derek's Story 

Submitted by Sophie on Tue, 20/11/2012 - 09:57

 

Leanne's Soup Run Story 

Submitted by Sophie on Wed, 16/05/2012 - 10:50
by Leanne Atkinson, Volunteer
 
 
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years on the Soup Run, it’s that homelessness can happen to literally anyone, and at any given time in their lives.
 
You never know what someone’s story might be. Why they’re there. Or what their friends or family might think is going on in their lives.
 
You’d be surprised.
 
We see people trying to keep up high appearances. Women all dolled up.

Nora's Story 

Submitted by admin on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 12:48

Nora (not her real name) ended up sleeping rough after suffering years of brutal and often savage domestic violence at the hands of her partner – the father of her five children. She could see nothing in her future. Suffering from clinical depression, Nora lost custody of her five children. She tried to end her life several times, not understanding that she was suffering from serious mental ill-health. “I suffered domestic violence for 13 years”, Nora says. “I did meet two or three men since I got away from my partner, but it was always the same thing. All I had to turn to was Simon. They made me realize that I was worth more than that.”

Eventually turning to Cork Simon for help, attending the Day Service on Anderson’s Quay, Nora says,

Ronan's Story 

Submitted by admin on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 12:02

Ronan (not his real name) was just 18 years old when he first arrived in Cork. Serious family problems had led to his parents asking him to leave home. He arrived in Cork with no money, no friends and nowhere to stay. That’s when he came across Cork Simon’s Soup Run. “Without the Soup Run, I would have starved”, says Ronan. “I’d probably be dead by now. It was the only way I had to get food.”

Harry's Story 

Submitted by admin on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 11:02

Harry is 44 years old and has a serious gambling addiction. It started when he was 17 and it has had a terrible effect on every part of his life since then.

“I started with 50p bets, then a few pounds, then hundreds, then thousands. At first it was horses and dogs, then it was football and poker. In the end I started going to casinos and putting on big bets. One time I won a six-figure sum, which you’d have thought would solve all my problems. But to me it was only gambling money, bigger stakes for bigger bets. And it was all gone within three weeks.”