homeless | 

Wicklow man (57) who recently suffered heart attack forced to sleep in woods after losing job

homeless | 

“The nights are freezing and I basically don’t sleep at all”

Wicklow People

Yesterday at 09:00

A 57-year-old man, who suffered a heart attack in December, now finds himself homeless and living in a make-shift camp set up in a wooded area in Laragh.

Paul King was let go from his job of close to five-years, which also provided accommodation, and has spent the past six weeks trying to survive the cold and wet dark nights, while sleeping under a plastic sheeting in the woods, having been unable to secure any other accommodation which will accept the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

“I am basically living under a plastic sheet, which I threw up with some ropes,” he said. “The nights are freezing and I basically don’t sleep at all.

“The sleeping bag helps to try and keep me warm, but that’s about the only heat I get. If it rains, then you have no chance of staying warm.”

He added: “I had a heart attack last Christmas morning and I currently have two stints and a balloon in my heart.

“I also have to take eight different tablets a day and my doctor is going mental. He feels I’m just a step away from having another heart attack.

“Even during the day it’s very cold so I have to walk in order to keep my body heated. I must be walking around 19 to 20k a day, which is also causing my doctor concern as my body isn’t able for it and I am losing a lot of weight.!

Paul said he has started to feel depressed because he can’t see a way out. With no address, he cannot get a new job.

“In all my life I never imagined I would be in this position at 57 years of age,” he said.

“I must have contacted close to 100 different places but none of them will accept HAP. I’m really in a totally hopeless situation and it’s hard to see when it is going to end.”

Paul is originally from Dublin but has lived in County Wicklow for some time and has been on the social housing waiting list for 13 years.

“I’m not a bad person, I’m a good person, but I have been on the housing waiting list for over 13 years. My doctor wrote the council a letter outlining my situation and medical condition, but it doesn’t seem to have made any difference.

“No one from the council has been out to see the conditions I am having to live in and it’s very hard to get any information regarding where exactly I am on the waiting list.”

While Paul has genuine fears over the impact his ordeal is having on both his physical and mental health, he atleast takes some comfort in the support he has received from members of the local Laragh community.

“People have been very good to me and I can’t thank them enough for helping me out,” he said.

“One shopkeeper gives me a hot coffee every morning and lets me charge my phone. I have also been provided with food and my clothing is also very kindly washed for me.

“I have known a lot of them for years and they are like family to me. It at least provides me with some form of solace.”

“The nights are freezing and I basically don’t sleep at all”