Joe was living in supported temporary accommodation before he moved into St Agatha’s Court in Dublin’s north inner city, when the housing development opened in the summer of 2017. Joe became homeless after his landlord decided to sell the house he was renting.

Having the key to his own door after over four years of homelessness has changed his life.

“When I saw this, I couldn’t even believe this was mine. I was waiting for someone to knock on the door and say ‘here, we’re after giving you the wrong place’. I have my kids and my grandchildren over and they love this place,” he says.

Even though Joe is living in his own place, he still receives assistance from Peter McVerry Trust’s Housing With Supports team. Their job is to offer any assistance required by Peter McVerry Trust clients to help them maintain their tenancies.

“They always ring. If I have any problems with forms or something like that or if I change my doctor, someone will come meet me and we’ll have a chat,” he says. “It’s very good.”

St Agatha’s Court was launched by Peter McVerry Trust in June 2017. Joe lives in one of the 11 units in the development, which was previously a vacant building.

“This is a lovely area. It’s nice and quiet. I just sit down, relax, watch my TV or watch the sport. I don’t have, ‘right the telly’s going off at 10’clock’ [like I did in the hostels]. Having this place is better than winning the Lotto”.