A day centre for the homeless in Dublin, which provides free breakfasts and lunches, is feeding more people than ever before.
A growing proportion of the 350 people a day coming to the Capuchin Day Centre in Bow Street are mothers with children and also non-nationals, centre manager Brother Kevin Crowley said.
Numbers at the centre have increased from some 200 a day three years ago, in part due to an expansion carried out there since an article in The Irish Times in December 2002.
"It was after that article that an anonymous donor gave us €500,000," Brother Kevin said. "It meant we were able to go to government and ask them to match it."
The new extension, which includes an area for mothers and children to eat their meals apart from others who may be drunk or disruptive, will be formally opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern this evening.
Breakfast on Saturday was typical - brown and white bread with sausages, soup, tea and coffee.
"Lunch today," says chef Roy Campbell, "will be mixed vegetable soup, beef stew and creamed rice for dessert."
Asked whether non-nationals - who number about 50 a day - ask for variations to the menu to suit their tastes, he shakes his head.
"No, to be honest they are starving, happy for food. Some arrive in this country from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia with just €500 in their pockets and no English. They can't get work and can't afford to feed themselves. The ones who come in here are fairly desperate."
Among those there last Saturday was a casually dressed but smart man in his 30s from Poland. Eating brown buttered bread and soup, he was just about able to explain in English that he had been in Ireland since February. Using a pocket dictionary he was able to communicate that he had arrived in Ireland with just €200.
Also there was Michael Smith (53) from Co Wicklow, who said he had been sporadically homeless since the 1970s. "I came to Dublin in 1968 and had a job as a kitchen porter, but I lost the job over the booze. I stay in hostels and sometimes I sleep on the streets. I don't like the hostels I can tell you, but I can't get a place. I've had places but I get kicked out because I play the radio loud. I like the country music."
He says he has been visiting the day centre about two days a week for over 20 years. "It's nice to have somewhere warm to come. I have friends here."
In contrast, Keith O'Reilly (28) from Mullingar has been homeless "about six months".
"I just didn't see eye to eye with my parents and I ended up moving out. I got a flat but then I hit the drink bad and couldn't afford the rent. Then I came to Dublin and was sleeping in the Phoenix Park for a week when a homeless guy told me about the Santa Maria hostel. It's €4.50 a day. It doesn't sound much but when you're trying to keep clothes on your back too . . . well."
He describes his situation as "getting worse and worse". He is drinking every day.
When asked whether he gets depressed, he looks away. His eyes dampening he says: "I hate talking about it to be honest."
Brother Kevin describes as a "scandal" the fact that the numbers needing the centre's help have increased.
"The measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable. We must all bear collective responsibility. It is right that everyone who is safe and in a warm bed tonight should feel guilty about what is happening to the people who come here every day."
