Stacey’s Story

For many years, my life was shaped by addiction, homelessness, and hardship. I spent 15 years moving between the streets, prison, mental health institutions and the hostels of Limerick. Prison became my second home, and the hostels were often the only safe places I had to turn to.

Without these services, especially NOVAS, Coolmine, Ana Liffey, and Bedford Row’s support to me and to my family, I know I would not be alive today. Those years were filled with pain, shame, and a deep sense of being judged and written off by society. I felt invisible, unwanted, and hopeless.

But even in the darkest times, walking the streets of Limerick alone and pregnant, I realised I had enough. These services were there, and there were people who showed me kindness and believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Their support gave me the chance to survive long enough to start again. In 2017, I faced a crossroads. I left TEP, pregnant with my third child, and went to Beaumont Hospital before entering treatment in Coolmine. For 15 months, I stayed in residential treatment, followed by a year in aftercare. That was where the real rebuilding began. Recovery is not easy, but it gave me tools, structure, and a new way of looking at myself. After treatment, I became a Client Representative in Coolmine for nearly two years. This role gave me confidence and purpose, I was no longer just a service user, but someone who could guide and support others walking the same path as me.

In 2021, I went to TUS, gained experience with Ana Liffey, where I learned the value of harm reduction and meeting people where they are at. Later, I became a locum worker, then worked with St Augustine’s School, while also being a locum support worker in NOVAS, where I still work today.

Education has also been central to my journey. I started with Level 5 and 6 qualifications at CCL College, and I am now in my fourth year of a Level 8 degree in Addiction and Community Development. I even had the privilege of representing Ireland in the Netherlands as part of a European project researching sex tourism. These opportunities have helped me grow, not just academically, but personally, proving to myself and to others that recovery opens doors we never thought possible.

But above all else, the heart of my story is my family. I am a proud mother of four children, and today, they have their mother back. My family, especially my aunt Bernie my mam, my dad, and my nana, have been my biggest supporters. My mam has always been my number one fan, my dad has given me quiet strength, and my nana’s love has been a constant reminder of who I really am. Their belief in me, along with the love of my children, gave me the strength to keep going when I doubted myself.

Recovery has taught me powerful lessons: to do the right thing even when no one is watching; to never forget where I came from; and to recognise that change is always possible if you change the way you look at things. I’ve learned how vital case management is for a person’s overall wellbeing, and how services working together can transform lives. My journey is living proof that people can and do change.

Looking back now, I see how far I’ve come from the streets, prison cells and hostels to private accommodation, education, and meaningful work. My life is no longer defined by addiction, but by the choices I make, the people I support, and the family I get to love and be present for. My message is simple: change is possible.

Hope is real, and people can change.

Fostering relationships and inclusion: A story of love, support and community

Meet Lorraine and Dennis, who first crossed paths seven years ago. Like any couple, they share inside jokes, support each other through challenging days, and dream about their future together. What makes their story special is how our team at Forge Park (Kerry Disability Service) has supported them individually and as a couple, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to live fulfilled lives and maintain a thriving relationship.

The team at Forge Park remains committed to providing continued support for Lorraine and Dennis’s relationship, ensuring they both experience a meaningful and fulfilling partnership. We understand that relationships can present unique challenges for individuals, requiring patience, understanding, and support approaches.

Building Individual Identities within Partnership

Supporting Lorraine and Dennis involves giving respect, communicating clearly and patiently, and providing empowerment-focused assistance that helps them build strong individual identities within their relationship. While Dennis lives in the community and receives individual support from NOVAS, he spends weekends with Lorraine at her residential home in Forge Park.

Both partners regularly communicate their needs to their keyworkers, who help them navigate various relationship situations. When weekend visits presented some challenges due to their unique individual needs, our team worked collaboratively with the couple to explore their wants and requirements in a supportive environment where questions and concerns were always welcome.

Creating Solution Together

Through open dialogue and careful planning, we developed strategies to help both Lorraine and Dennis better manage their shared weekend time. This included important work around boundaries and consent—fundamental aspects of any healthy relationship.

Dennis brings his love of walks, conversations, radio, and gardening to the relationship, along with his wonderful sense of humour and hearty laugh. Lorraine values her privacy and has a passion for music and dancing. She takes pride in styling her own hair and has a particular fondness for anything in baby pink. Together, they enjoy sharing drinks and takeaways during their weekend time.

Combating Loneliness through Connection

Investing in their relationship addresses a significant challenge facing many people of our services: loneliness. This partnership has a profound positive impact on both individuals’ mental health, social connections, and overall quality of life.

Recently, Lorraine and Dennis celebrated Lorraine’s birthday—a truly special day that highlighted the joy their relationship brings to their lives. Looking ahead, they’re excited about upcoming “date days,” a new initiative we’re introducing to facilitate healthy relationship development through community engagement.

Áine’s Story

My name is Áine. I became homeless after leaving the Tusla aftercare program. I’d been in care since I was 15, and in that time, I had over 14 different placements. I never had stability. I never had a place that felt like home.

When I first arrived at Whitestown almost three years ago, I didn’t even unpack my bags. I told myself, “This won’t last long.” I was used to things falling apart.

But this time, it was different.

I met with the management team and was assigned a keyworker. Slowly, I started to settle in. I began attending mental health appointments and getting support with housing. Bit by bit, I started unpacking—not just my bags, but my life.

I found comfort in the little things: painting the garden, planting flowers, making art, having summer BBQs. For the first time in a long time, I felt like part of something. I felt safe. I gained confidence in myself.

NOVAS has shown me that there really is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark life feels. I’ll never forget the kindness of the staff—their encouragement, patience, and belief in me.

If someone had told me when I first moved in that I’d be crying when it came time to leave, I would have laughed. But that’s exactly what’s happening now.

I’m about to move into a home of my own.

I closed myself off to the world at a young age to protect myself. But this experience has proven that I don’t have to anymore. I’ve learned how to trust again.

I can’t thank NOVAS—and people like you—enough for helping me get to where I am today.

Angelina’s Story

My name is Angelina, and I’d like to share my story in the hope that it might help someone else experiencing homelessness. We had been renting a house for years when our landlord told us he was selling it. My children were only 9 and 5 at the time, and it was devastating to think about leaving our home. I immediately began looking for a new place to live, applying for every rental I could afford, and even some that were too expensive.

But there were very few properties available, and we weren’t offered any. I reached out to local politicians for help, but no one could help. Eventually, we had no choice but to present as homeless. I couldn’t believe it was happening. I cried every day, filled with worry about where we would end up. Just two days before we had to leave our home, NOVAS contacted me and said we could move into a hotel in the City Centre. It wasn’t ideal, but I was relieved to have somewhere to stay, especially since it was close enough for my kids to stay in their school.

Moving into the hotel was a huge adjustment. We went from a 3-bedroom house to a tiny room with three single beds. The only sink was a tiny one in the bathroom, where I had to wash the dishes. I couldn’t cook or do laundry, so I went to my mum’s house every day to wash our clothes and make meals to bring back to the room. Without her, I don’t know how we would have managed.

The hardest part was the lack of space. My kids couldn’t be themselves. They had nowhere to play or meet their friends. They had to eat and do homework on the bed, but they were so good about it, and it broke my heart to see them living that way. The room was so cramped that we couldn’t even pass each other without stepping into the bathroom or onto the bed. There was no-where to go for me to go for a cry in private, and I had to keep it together for their sake. There was no privacy at all, and as a parent, that was tough. While I love my kids, everyone needs their own space sometimes.

Our first Christmas in the hotel was really hard. There was no room for a tree, so I put up a few decorations and stickers on the windows. Visitors weren’t allowed in the hotel, and we’d been so used to having neighbours call in over Christmas in our house. We spent Christmas Day at my mum’s, and that was a nice break, but coming back to the hotel afterward reminded me of the reality of our situation. There was no space for the kids to play with their new toys, and they had to leave most of them in my mum’s house, which broke my heart. We stayed in that hotel for a year before being moved to a family hub, which was a little better. There was more space, and I could finally cook in a small kitchen.

Finally, after two years in temporary accommodation, NOVAS called to tell us we would be moving into one of their homes. It was the 19th of March, a date I’ll never forget. We got the keys on a Friday, which was also my daughter’s birthday, and I made sure we moved in that day to make it extra special. It was one of the happiest days of our lives—I’ve never seen my kids so excited.

Our new home is amazing. Apart from my children, it’s the best gift I’ve ever received. Every night, I thank God for our home. We have wonderful neighbours, my kids are back to having a normal childhood, and they even get to ride their bikes and invite friends over. When my son went back to school in September, he was thrilled to give his friends our new home address.

We’re all so excited for Christmas this year. We’re decorating the house with lights, and I’m cooking dinner for my mum and the rest of the family. The kids are insisting on putting the Christmas tree in the window so everyone can see it. I’m so grateful to NOVAS for everything they’ve done. They’ve been fantastic, and James my Tenant Engagement Manager always checks in to make sure everything is going well. That’s why I wanted to share my story. It’s been hard, but I’m proud of how we coped, and I want others to know that there is hope. If you’re in the same situation, hold on—take it day by day. There is a home for everyone, and you’ll get through it. Thank you to everyone who supports NOVAS, and for helping me and my children find our home.

Angelina.

Lola’s Furever Home

“My name is David and I have been living in NOVAS Mitchel St Project since August 2023. Previous to this I had been homeless for over 3 years, couch surfing between friends and family. During that time my addiction and dependency on drugs increased and my mental health suffered too. I first met Lola when she belonged to someone else and I could see he was not taking care of her properly. She is a lovely Patterdale breed and I could tell she was miserable. I asked him could I look after her even though I had no home, but I could not leave her there. He agreed and since then Lola has become my forever companion. I was lucky she is such a quiet dog and so loyal that she could stay with me wherever I went.

When I moved into NOVAS at first she would stay with my brother at night and I would collect her first thing every morning. That was my routine for a while until NOVAS staff could see how much I missed her when she was gone. I asked the staff could Lola stay over one or two nights on a trial basis and from then on she got to stay with me full time. Lola is my best friend, she goes everywhere with me, to clinics, to appointments. I get up every morning to walk her and she has brought structure and focus to my life. I have to think about her when I am making any decisions good or bad. I am now very determined to get a home with a small garden just for the two of us. She has also become everyone’s friend in the project, staff and other clients love to pet her and give her treats.

I wish I had met Lola years ago as I feel I would not have gone down the road I have but now I feel any decision I make or action I do are positive ones.

She has been my lifesaver.”

Lisa Marie’s Story

Lisa Marie’s story

I started getting support from NOVAS approximately 10 years ago. Life was very tough back then. I was homeless with my partner and our four children; moving from hotel to hotel for nearly a year. My mental health was very poor and I started misusing street tablets to make me feel better. Finally, I ended up in 5B after trying to take my own life but the devil told me to go home. I can joke about it now but it felt like I was not good for anything or anyone. My children were open to social work and I could see no hope. This was not the life I wanted for my kids.

Around that time, I started working with NOVAS. They supported me with things such as referrals to counselling and parenting programmes, applying for different benefits, budgeting and also practical things like lifts. After a while, they helped us get a council house, somewhere to call a home.

Over the past few years, our lives have changed completely. We have a beautiful home, I am clean from drugs and when life gets tough I continue fighting because my children need me. We are now receiving tenancy sustainment support from NOVAS. My key-worker calls in once a week for a chat and she helps with different things.

We do not see NOVAS as an organisation, but like a part of our family. It is like my mother or a sister calling. I am so proud of myself and thankful to Novas for being with us every step of the way and for always going above and beyond. Everything is possible, you just need to open up and ask for support.

Our Story – moving into our own home

We had been living in the middle of a bog area in a caravan and then a mobile home for about six years. We found this very difficult but we made it work at the time. We had a water tank that would get filled every week and our electricity came from a generator which we would have to get fuel for regularly. This generator caused us a lot of trouble as it would always break and cost a good bit to get fixed. We used a kerosene heater for heat which wasn’t great because the fumes were not good for our health and especially the health of our children. During the winter time it was worse because there would be icicles on the ceiling of the mobile in the morning time.

We reared our two young children as best we could with what we had to give them a good start at life but it was not easy to do in the conditions. Living out there we were very isolated from people and it was very lonely for us trying to get by in life. Really the restrictions of Covid didn’t change how we lived because we have felt isolated for a long time.

We were over the moon when we heard we were being offered the NOVAS house, we really didn’t believe this would ever happen for us. When we first got to see the house we were delighted and at the time still really did not believe that it was happening. We didn’t even know what to do or how to move into a house but we have had so much support from Ciara in the Tipperary NOVAS service that she made everything easier for us. She has been helping us out for about 2 years now and we honestly couldn’t ask for a better person to support us. She has helped make our house a home.

It means the world to me knowing that my wife and children are now safe and we have more freedom to be happy. We have got our heating, electricity and running water with no worries about whether or not they cut out or waking up to icicles in the morning.

Our children have the space in the house and even having the back garden now where they can grow up safely, they did not have this before. We have a small dog and she loves the house too and even has her own little bed in the sitting room. We are not isolated anymore and have better access to shops and places that we need to go to everyday.  We always make sure to celebrate Christmas no matter where we have been but this will be the best Christmas in our new home.

My family feel totally safe and secure for the first time in a long time and we are very happy.

Our forever home

Being a family of seven living in emergency accommodation was hard and cramped. My boys found it difficult because there was three of them in the same room and they have big age gaps between them. My partner and I shared a room with our two daughters. It was becoming a strain on our relationships and on us as a family because we had nowhere to go when we needed some space, there was no outdoor area and no visitors allowed, at times it felt like prison. However, we were at the time extremely grateful to have it. My oldest child was embarrassed about where he lived as we all were, but he took it the worst.

When we got the call about being put forward for by the Limerick Council for the NOVAS house we could not believe our luck. After three years in a two-bedroom apartment things began to get better when we met Sarah and went out to view the house. It was everything we could have wished for and more.

When Sarah graciously gave us the keys to the house all my five children started to cry. My seven-year-old said ‘wishes really do come true mam’. As a parent this was the best thing that could have happened. When I see them playing in our backyard it fills me with joy. Something that would not have happened without Sarah or NOVAS.

Now we are in our forever home in time for Christmas and each child and adult feel as if all our Christmases have come at once. We have never been so happy. We would like to thank Sarah from NOVAS Housing and Naomi from the NOVAS family support service from the bottom of our hearts for giving us our home, your time and resources and for giving us a chance and for helping our wishes come true.

My sons would also like to thank you because now they can have friends over (after Covid of course) and have some pride in their home. And lastly, thank you because I can finally have my parents over to our home for a cup of tea which means the world to us all, something we haven’t had for 3 years. You will never know how much this house (our forever home) means to us, how it has changed everything and how much stress has been lifted from us.

From myself, my partner and my children- Thank you.

Sumithra’s Story

Before I moved to my new home I lived in emergency accommodation for eight months.   I was in the middle of receiving chemotherapy treatment and had two children to care for.

In the emergency accommodation I received a lot of support from the staff but there was a lot of shouting, and noise and I found it very hard to sleep.  The children were also affected by this and they were scared most of the time.  I felt I could not control my children and found this very stressful.

When I was receiving treatment the staff were very good to me by looking after my children but I felt it was not my own home and I had to constantly remind my children that we needed to wait to move into a new home.  The children were sad living there as the noise was really bad which caused them to be anxious.  I felt I was in a prison, as my friends could not come and see me.  I was always sitting in the house.  I felt very stressed.  The only faces I seen were the staff and the children.  I use to cry in the middle of the night and did not sleep for many nights.

I could not paint or decorate my home and the children became very upset as they wanted to hang pictures because they love drawing and colouring.  It’s a prison and I found it very hard to live here.  I felt I had no address, no platform.   I missed my friends and the company.

When I first saw my home I felt it was a miracle.  The first thing I asked was if I could hang the children’s pictures up on the wall!  The children are very happy as they could now express themselves and show off their art by hanging their pictures on the wall.  The children can play outside and move around freely.  The children are so happy and they went crazy when they first saw their new home and they love their bedrooms.  They play in the back garden and we plan to buy a trampoline to play on.  My little boy loves gardening and now we have our own garden.  We plan to grow seeds and plant flowers.    I received a donation from NOVAS.  It was a TV which the children are very grateful for.  They have not watched TV for eight months because I was saving to buy furniture for a possible new home.  I was very happy to learn that my new home will be fully furnished.  This took so much stress away from me and my family.

I have also support from my support worker, Susan, who can help me out with different things.  My friends can come over and visit now, I’m not alone here.  I just introduced myself to my neighbours and they are really nice.  I have already planned to have friends to come visit my new home.  Now I have an address, somewhere to call home, somewhere my children can be happy and can express themselves.  This is my home, this is my address.  I can now sleep in peace.

Joan and Kieran’s Story

At the end of 2019 NOVAS established it’s first Family Tenancy Sustainment service in Dublin. In collaboration with Fingal County Council, we housed 52 families during the Covid-19 pandemic. These families had been living in emergency accommodation, confined to one bedrooms in hotels & B&B’s. We are thrilled to supported them move to their own homes.
Here Kieran and Joan share their story:
We lived on a halting site for 20 years, we got married and had our children who were raised there. Overtime the halting site became very messy, dirt and rubbish started building up and new buildings started popping up everywhere around us. We tried to keep it tidy as much as we could but the dirt was attracting rats and the toilet facilities were absolutely horrific. We felt really low in ourselves, we were concerned for our children. We had to hand wash our children as we had no running water. The children would have to use buckets at night time when using the toilet. They had nowhere to play so we had to keep our kids indoors most of the time as it was not safe on the site. We feel the children could not be like children, they were losing out. There was no space in the caravan, we were living on top of each other. The caravan was very cold in the winter, electricity would constantly go off and the caravan floor was damp, with it falling through at one stage. Living in this environment was stressful. We were ashamed living in these conditions compared to now.
 
We were picked to move into our new home. Coming from a halting site and moving into a settle community was great. We felt very welcome as the NOVAS staff introduced us to one of our neighbours. They made us feel very welcome. As a family we have our own space and our relationships are improving. We became very excited as we started to picture decorating our new home before Christmas. The children were very excited and the kids started arguing about picking their rooms. The kids are settling in and they are doing much better in school and making friends in the community. We feel very safe and don’t feel locked in. We feel that we are part of a community and take great pride in our new home. We have a back garden so the kids can play.
We feel so grateful that we had the support moving and continue to receive support from our support worker, Pamela. Now we have a fresh start and a new life.

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