Volunteers hand out food and aid to Dublin’s rough sleepers on Friday night

Volunteer group A Lending Hand spent Friday night on Dublin streets distributing food, drink and clothing to people sleeping rough.

Arriving shortly after 9.30 pm, volunteers led by Keira Gill set up trolleys of supplies near St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. By 10.10 pm they had handed out 80 drinks and most of the 40 prepared meals, with many more people waiting for assistance.

The group, which is not a registered charity, relies solely on public donations and the efforts of volunteers who have built long‑term relationships with rough sleepers. Gill said the situation has not improved over the years and that many of those on the streets are “invisible” and suffer from combined addiction and mental‑health issues.

One of the men they met, Shane O’Connor, 45, has a history of heroin use from age 15, a nine‑year prison term and recent release in May. He relapsed within a week of leaving prison, receiving no after‑care support, and described his life as “pure hell”. His story highlights concerns about the lack of continuity in treatment for ex‑prisoners with addiction.

Other rough sleepers described the nightly dangers they face, with one man, Dave, saying he feels responsible for protecting his girlfriend from potential robbery or assault. The volunteers emphasized that accommodation alone will not solve the deeper trauma and addiction challenges faced by the homeless.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Mathias Reding / Pexels.