A HOMELESS dad-of-two from Ballymun was presented with the keys to his new home last week after spending the past nine months sleeping on a friend’s couch.
Daryl Mahon, who works as an addiction counsellor in a drug rehabilitation centre, was just another homeless statistic earlier this year but he’ll now be celebrating Christmas in a new three-bed home off the North Circular Road.
The 31-year-old had been unsettled for over two years and ended up crashing on a pal’s sofa so that he could save for a deposit after being accepted for a unique housing programme.
That meant he couldn’t live with his two kids, Zayne (3) and Zianna (4), but the family separation and a lot of hard work from Daryl has resulted in them having a home life.
Daryl got the home after he applied and was accepted for Habitat for Humanity Ireland’s Homeowner Programme. The non-profit organisation builds houses together with successful applicants so Daryl had to roll up his sleeves to help construct his own home.
The house was previously a derelict council house that attracted anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping but Daryl, Habitat for Humanity Ireland and local volunteers all pitched in to transform it into a family home.
Last week Daryl was presented with the keys of his new house by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, and was officially removed from Dublin City Council’s lengthy housing waiting list.
He’ll now be paying a small mortgage on the house and the Lord Mayor said the Northside dad fully deserved his new home.
“I am delighted to be part of this joyous occasion,
? he said.
“It is fantastic to meet the homeowner family and to celebrate this wonderful new home.
“Hard work and determination from Habitat for Humanity, Dublin City Council, volunteers, donors and the homeowner family have transformed this former derelict house into a family home.
“This is an inspiring project that will provide the homeowners with the foundations for a brighter and healthier future.
?
The Lord Mayor said he hoped Habitat for Humanity Ireland’s partnership with Dublin City Council would continue into the future and he described it as a
“fantastic way
? to address Dublin’s growing housing need.
Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Ireland, Vinnie Cunningham, said it was exciting to see Daryl and his two children move into their new home.
“Every four minutes, Habitat for Humanity helps support a family, just like the Mahon family, to improve their living conditions somewhere in the world,
? he said.
“Time and time again we see how a simple, decent home can transform a family’s life, just as it will for the Mahon family, and so every single one of these home dedications is a celebration.
?
Details on how to apply for Habitat for Humanity Ireland programme are available online at www.habitatireland.ie or call 01-5310033.