“My dad left our family when I was young, I’m still not sure why. We lived in Ireland and back then separation was frowned upon so my mother became isolated from our extended family.
“We became homeless multiple times. My mother tried her best to keep us all together but three of her children were taken into foster care. As the youngest, my sister and I stayed with her, but I never had a stable upbringing. I didn’t finish school, we didn’t celebrate birthdays, and I can remember sleeping on the beach during one Christmas, and in the woods for another. As I got older, I stopped bothering with Christmas altogether as I was homeless during most of them or on my own, just trying to survive.
“Eventually, I moved to England and was given a place in an Emmaus community. I’d been sleeping rough again and hadn’t eaten anything for four days straight. It was so good to be somewhere clean and where the staff were willing to help.
“I kept myself to myself at first because being with other people was something I just wasn’t used to. Now, thanks to Emmaus, I have a calm and stable life – something I’ve not had in years. It has given me the opportunity to work and better myself. It’s a lifeline to a better future.”
Michael, a companion at Emmaus North East spent many Christmases alone. We are grateful to him for sharing his experiences. Please will you send a gift this Christmas and help bring more people into an Emmaus community?
You can make a difference this Christmas.
Your donation will help us to provide a home and meaningful work to people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
Thank you.
You can make a difference this Christmas.
Your donation will help us to provide a home and meaningful work to people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
Thank you.