Christopher first entered homelessness at the age of 11 and spent much of his adult life in homeless accommodation. However, in 2017 he moved into his own home with support from Peter McVerry Trust.

“The fact that I have this place is a blessing,” he says.

Now that Christopher is living in stable accommodation, he is now able to make plans for the future and further his education.

“You’re able to prioritise things because you have your own house. And you can sit down and say this is what I do and get on with it,” he says.

“This house has helped me with college because I have people in Peter McVerry Trust who support me.”

After years of homelessness, Christopher is delighted to have the safety and security of his own home.

“People take a lot of things for granted. They take the likes of a roof over their head and food in their belly for granted. People who have had everything for all their life sometimes don’t appreciate the smaller things in life, and I do. I appreciate that I have a roof over my head. I appreciate the fact that I can now cook a warm dinner,” he explains.

“When I was told about this place, it like I was after getting a phone call from the National Lottery. I was like a mad man, jumping up and down like I had been told I was after winning €10 million euro.

“You don’t realise how dramatically things can change, from one day to the next. On the Thursday that I got the call about this place I was in a hostel, and on Friday I was living here. The dynamics of my whole life just changed straight away,” he concludes.