"John" is blind in one eye following a beating by four men in St Stephen's Green last year. The 43-year-old homeless man also suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage in February.
These factors may help speed up his application for a local authority flat.
Sitting in the yard at the back of the Dublin Simon Community's emergency hostel in Harcourt Street, the father of two adult daughters and a nine-year-old son has been homeless for two years.
A former tradesman, he went to the United States five years ago after he found his wife was having an affair. He worked in various jobs in New York, Miami and Philadelphia and came back to Ireland three years ago.
"I don't really know why I came back. Home is home. I lived in hotels and bed and breakfasts for about year. When the cash ran out, the friends ran out, and I ended up on the streets."
None of his family know he's homeless. "I don't want my kids to know until I get sorted out. I spent Christmas Day two years ago sleeping in a telephone box on Parkgate Street."
John has slept in parks and hospital car-parks as well as hostels all over the city. He got a place in the shelter three months ago through contact with the Simon Community's outreach team.
An alcoholic, he has been through several detox programmes. He has tried to get a flat in the private sector but most landlords won't take welfare cheques. Those that do are letting awful, tiny places, he says, and there is always a long queue.
John gets €134 a week in social welfare, €42 of which pays his board at the shelter. The rest "goes on drink and transport".
John will be allowed to stay at the shelter for another three months. "Then it's back to the sleeping bag. I don't like it. You get hassle big time from the police, and they got extra freaky with this EU presidency thing. They don't want homeless people on the streets."
A home of his own would mean he could begin rebuilding his relationship with his children. "I miss my young lad a lot. That's breaking my heart. I'd love to be able to bring him to McDonald's and have a place to bring him. I think at some stage everything is going to be alright. It can only get better."
