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.

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.

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.

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.