“I don’t think today can get any more awesome than this.”

These were the words of Barry Gannon, as he entered his own home for the first time.

The occasion marked a significant moment in Barry’s life – his first day as an adult living in his own home.

After spending time in prison and experiencing homelessness for most of his life, Barry was housed with help from Peter McVerry Trust in 2017. He now lives in a two-bedroom duplex in north Dublin, which has allowed him to leave the past behind and start again.

“No-one should be homeless. Everyone should have their own place. I’m just grateful…I’ve never lived on my own,” he said.

“For 20 years, I’ve lived on and off in a cell that would be no bigger than this kitchen. Now I have a two-bedroom house, a sitting room, a kitchen, a toilet, a shower, a spacious house. It’s honestly a dream come true.”