'Rough sleeping is terrifying': Homeless man credits Cork Simon for saving his life

Declan Marian is living in one of the charity’s high-support houses — one of the 204 formerly homeless people in housing with visiting support across Cork and Kerry

Cork Simon chief executive Dermot Kavanagh and Declan Marian outside one of Cork Simon’s high- support houses. Picture: Colm Lougheed

Despite record homeless figures, there are stories of hope which inspire those working on the frontline to keep going.

Declan Marian, 50, is one of those remarkable success stories.

Mr Marian got his first job aged 14, and worked all his life in landscaping or construction, holding down two jobs at once stage as he saved for a wedding. 

By his early 20s, he had a house, a job, and a young family. He never thought homelessness could happen to him.

But a relationship breakdown meant Mr Marian felt he had no option but to leave the family home. His situation was exacerbated by a set of debilitating health conditions, including diagnosis of and surgical treatment for Crohn’s disease, which was complicated by chronic vertigo and arthritis.

Sleeping rough

He found himself sleeping rough, moving from the street, to hostels to emergency homeless shelters.

“I remember that first night homeless,” he said.

“I slept in the first place I could find, under a branch on the grounds of a church in Greenmount. It was lashing out of the heavens. I got absolutely drowned.

“You call it rough sleeping. I call it rough resting because you can't sleep because it’s terrifying. 

"You’re afraid, you hear a noise, and you wonder is he going to rob me, or is he going to attack me?

“You try to stay awake and then find a place where you can go to sleep in peace where you won’t be harmed or threatened.

I got jumped, and I got robbed and assaulted. I’ve had my bag robbed three or four times, with my medication and phone taken. It’s terrifying on the streets. 

“You feel like if you go to sleep, you just don’t want to wake up. It’s horrifying. You think ‘how the fuck did I end up here? I had the world at my feet’?” 

Mental health deteriorated

As his homeless situation endured, Mr Marian's health deteriorated, he lost more than two stone in weight, his mental health deteriorated, and he turned to alcohol — a problem he has now addressed.

But after years of chronic ill-health and constant support from Cork Simon, his life is back on track.

He is living in one of the charity’s high-support houses — one of the 204 formerly homeless people in housing with visiting support across Cork and Kerry, and one of the 46 people in high-support housing with round-the-clock care.

Cork Simon encouraged him to complete over a dozen training and upskilling courses and he is healthy enough to be actively looking for work again.

“They were always there, always encouraging me. When I do go back to work, it will be brilliant for myself, my confidence and the reward of doing something fulfilling," he said.

A former schoolboy chess champion at Greenmount NS and later in Deerpark secondary school, Mr Marian said he was thrilled to work, as part of a Cork Simon and Cork City Council project, with artist Tommy Lysaght on the chess pieces for the city’s new outdoor chess tables which were installed recently on Pope’s Quay.

Mr Marian credits the entire team at Cork Simon for saving his life.

“They’re like an extension of my family now. Get back working is a must… all I need in life is my health… and a roof over my head. That’s all I ask for.”