How one community worker survived homelessness
Sean Kinsella can't walk through Ballymun in Dublin without being stopped by people who know him. It's where he was born and raised. It's where went to school and made friends. It's where he became homeless and addicted to heroin.
Sean Kinsella, a community worker based in Dublin, grew up and became homeless in the Ballymun area of the city. The journey to homelessness began during his teenage years when he started experiencing homelessness and heroin addiction. Kinsella's ADHD was a contributing factor to his difficulties, as he often felt dysregulated and looked for ways to escape his situation.
After becoming involved in crime and spending time in prison, Kinsella turned his life around at the age of 29 with the help of Fr Peter McVerry, who had once assisted him as a homeless teenager. He moved into temporary accommodations, eventually obtaining independent living accommodation and a Bachelor's degree in Sports Coaching.
Today, Kinsella runs Sean Kinsella - Lived Experience, an organization that supports people facing homelessness and addiction, helping them navigate various challenges and advocating for their needs. Homelessness among single adults in Ireland has increased significantly, making up 61% of all emergency homeless accommodation, and Kinsella is working to address the issue through his organization and speaking engagements.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
