Security

Vulnerable is how service users at Depaul who have slept rough describe their time on the streets or living in derelict buildings or cars.  Some have even been attacked by passers by, had their sleeping bags set on fire or been urinated on.  It's not just the constant threat to their own safety or the fact that the handful of personal possessions they carry with them - reminders of their lives before sleeping rough - might disappear overnight, it's the struggle to hold on to their dignity and a sense of identity that has such a long-term effect.

It's not surprising then that a door is valued so highly by service users coming to Depaul, knowing that they're in a safe and caring environment, where they are respected and can choose to spend time in the privacy of their own room or with others.  Working closely with Depaul's committed staff and volunteers, service users are encouraged to learn new skills - from working in the garden to using a computer - that help them start to regain their confidence and a sense of being a valued member of their community, both within the project and beyond.