A man who found himself homeless and struggling with drug and alcohol addictions has turned his life around.
Gary Bryne was sleeping rough and sofa surfing in Derry and elsewhere in Northern Ireland before he turned to Foyle Haven for help.
The 55-year-old spoke of how he was homeless since 1995, struggling to find one decent meal a day and didn't know where to turn.
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Gary said he "stumbled" across Derry's Craigavon bridge after being told about the charity by "one of the boys on the streets" during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
He added: "I didn't plan on getting here, while most people went on the drink during lockdown, I gave it up.
"I wasn’t getting any benefits, and I was starting out at the bottom. The first thing I was asked was ‘do you have anything to eat’. I was starving and so they fed me, then they advised me about the housing executive, got me into a B&B and helped me with everything.
"I had only started using Foyle Haven in 2020. I was only in Derry for three months before this because I had been living between Dublin and Northern Ireland since the 90s.
"They have played a very important part in helping me to turn my life around. I’m a different person 110%. It was a life I don’t think I’d have without Foyle Haven. I couldn’t even hold a sentence together – now I’m writing a book about my life.
"I don’t think I’d have made it to today without their help. They provided and help me get an ID, registration, clothes and they kept me fed."
Gary continued: "I was in Derry a good three months before I got here. What Foyle Haven has done in terms of support and practical help is incredible. I had nowhere to go and hadn’t eaten in days.
"It was because of them that I had somewhere to go for support and to see a friendly face."
The charity was established in 2001 as a drop-in centre for street drinkers by Sergeant Paul Sheehy and Sister Catherine Boyle who were determined to help Derry’s street drinkers.
The needs of service users increased through the years and in 2011 the centre amalgamated with Depaul to ensure its sustainability into the future.
This week the centre will celebrate its 20th year since opening, and since the turn of the year, the charity has already helped over 200 people with support.
Gary said that for people caught up in the vicious cycle of homelessness and addiction, Foyle Haven can prove a "lifeline".
"Foyle Haven is a life ring for people who are at their lowest," he added.
"People caught up in the cycle of homelessness and addiction, particularly with mental health issues can benefit from it.
"What I’ve come to understand from living in Derry, the Foyle Haven is a centre point for these people to get help. My self-respect and confidence is back and I’m learning to trust people again.
"I’m writing a book about my life. I like to keep busy now and go for walks and come down. It took me two years to build up the support structure I have in place now and before the haven, I didn’t have this support network.
"They opened the gate no matter where I go and I’ll always carry Foyle Haven in my heart. What everyone forgets about homelessness, is that this person had a life – they are someone’s son, someone’s father, someone’s daughter, they matter.
"I didn’t even think I’d see 21 years of age. Foyle Haven broke the cycle for me and I’m building relationships again with my son I’m now looking forward to being a grandad."
Chief Executive of Depaul, David Carroll said that the homelessness in the city was continuing to get worse.
He said: “Social inequalities and homelessness remain a big problem in Derry and I want to commend our staff for their dedication to our service users, especially during the challenges of Covid-19.
"Over the last number of years, our donors and supporters, both members of the public, and our elected representatives have shown incredible generosity in helping others facing challenges in life.”
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