Homeless youngster gets advice
centre lifeline
 By
Elaine Sheridan
Just when young Terry Walsh thought there was no hope help came his way
in the form of the Irish Support and Advice Service (ISAS) based in Hammersmith.
Having to leave home because of conflicting interests 23-year-old Terry
had nowhere to live and was facing cold and lonely nights on the streets
of London.
Born and bred in London Terry tried all the obvious avenues. He went to
his local Hammersmith and Fulham housing office which turned him down
saying he wasn’t eligible for a flat in the area.
He then went on and tried various housing associations within the borough
but to no avail.
Exhausted by his efforts, he was about to give up hope when someone mentioned
the Irish Support and Advice Service to him. Because Terry’s dad
was partly Irish it meant that he would be entitled to seek assistance
in trying to locate a place to live.
He said: “I was nearly down and out when suddenly I was offered
a lifeline. I approached the ISAS in Hammersmith Irish Centre who researched
my background.
“They put me in touch with the Haringey Irish Centre whose Causeway
Project helps house young Irish people living in London.
“I provided all the documentation they required to prove my authenticity
and they set about getting the ball rolling. Suddenly I felt a glimmer
of hope — at least they took an interest.
“The people there were very sympathetic and understanding —
which is more than I got from the rest of the associations I approached.”
Within a few days Terry was offered a safe, warm place to live in West
London where he had lived all his life. Now he is trying to get his life
back on track.
He said: “Things are good now but I really wanted to highlight the
fact that without the help of the Irish centres I would have ended up
on the streets with nowhere to turn. I’m so grateful. They do such
an amazing job.”
Causeway Irish Housing Association was established in 1986 and provides
short-life housing for 125 young single homeless Irish people and couples
aged 18-31.
The accommodation mainly consists of shared housing with some self-contained
properties. Many of the properties are leased by Causeway Irish Housing
Association on a short-life basis from other housing associations.
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