Marriage joy for homeless couple
DUBLIN YESTERDAY
DAMNING new figures show almost 300 more people were made homeless last month – pushing the number to 9,968.
The data released by the Department of Housing last night showed 158 more adults and 86 more children left without a roof over their heads.
With the removal of over 1,600 people still being accommodated by section ten funding earlier in the year, Inner City Helping Homeless claim the true figure is well above 10,000.
ICHH Head of Communications Brian Mcloughlin said: “Once again we have seen increases in the numbers homeless across the country.
“We have seen rises in the overall numbers of adults and children facing up to Christmas in emergency accommodation and last month alone there was an increase in family presentations in the capital.
“The most frightening statistics show last month in Dublin one child became homeless every four hours.
“Christmas is supposed to be the most exciting time of year for children yet many face the uncertainty of life in emergency accommodation over the festive period. The Government has A COUPLE who met in homeless accommodation three years ago tied the knot yesterday.
Jimmy Power, 36, first laid eyes on 29-year-old Christina Quinn at the Salvation Army’s Granby shelter.
The pair were married at a Dublin city centre registrar’s office almost a year to the day since becoming engaged.
Speaking on RTE Radio One’s Drivetime, Christina said: “I grew up with care and when I was 18 I went out on my own and that’s how I ended up at the Granby – and I’m there about seven-and-a-half years.
“Jimmy moved in about three years ago and after about a year of being friends we realised we had feelings for one another.
“We went on a date and said we’ll see how it goes and two-and-a-half years later we are married. “For our first date we went to the pictures and we went to Mcdonalds for ice cream afterwards.”
Jimmy added: “I’d been going through a hard stage with mental health but when I met Christina I thought ‘Wow, she is hot’.”
The pair admitted dating was difficult given the housing they were in. Christina explained: “It was hard. Granby is a singles accommodation so we were trying to be in a relationship and play by the rules.
“In the end Jimmy used to sneak into my room at night just to be together.
“On Christmas Day last year, all of our friends were there, we were in the middle of karaoke and he got down on one knee and proposed.
“One of the girls made a ring out of tinfoil because we didn’t have a ring at the time.
“I still have that ring to this day.” For their wedding night they stayed at a Dublin hotel.
Last week the couple moved into new supported accommodation in the city, this time sharing the same room.
Christina admitted with no staff or friends around “it is a bit weird”.
Now she hopes to get work to help get their marriage off to the best start.
She added: “I want to go back and finish my childcare course and get a part-time job.”
Jimmy told how they are looking forward to the future. He said: “We are hoping for a good Christmas and living our lives a day at a time.” Dublin hotel celebrations
It was hard as shelter was just for singles and we tried to obey rules CHRISTINA QUINN
continuously failed these children by failing to provide proper homes and their refusal to build social and affordable housing on public lands is the reason for this.
“As we come towards the end of 2018 it is clear that the homelessness and housing crisis continues to get worse while the Government continue to fail people when they need it most.”