WATCH: This rap highlights the harsh reality of being homeless

We are all very aware that Ireland is in the grips of a homeless crisis right now.

Adults, teens and families are being forced to live on the streets, in hostels or in hotels for long periods of time. And it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

In fact, at the end of the month of June, 9,872 people were accessing emergency accommodation around the country; 912 were aged between 18 -24.

"Dean" is one of these young adults who has found themselves living in emergency accommodation.

He has been homeless since November 2017, and accessed Peter McVerry Trust's homeless service in December of that year. 

The 21-year-old is currently residing in one of their services in Dublin. His name has been changed to protect his identity. 

Dean is well aware of the stereotypical views people have on those who find themselves in emergency accommodation.

He wrote a rap titled Paint Me to challenge these stereotypical views, including the different routes to becoming homeless. 

The rap highlights the pain of being homeless and the stigma which surrounds it, admitting that telling people he has to go back to his hostel is a "conversation killer".

Dean also shares how becoming being homeless is not something that you decide to do – that's not how it works. 

"This ain't no choice of mine

And in no point in time

Did I decide that I

Did I decide that I

This ain't no price is right

And in no point in time

Did I decide that I

Did I decide that I

Wanted to be homeless."

It's incredibly eye-opening to listen to it, and we applaud Dean for sharing his experiences and thoughts. 

Dean is 21. He has been accessing our homeless services since December 2017 and has been in and out of homelessness since the age of 16.

He wishes to challenge the stereotypical views people have on homelessness in his poem “Paint Me”. Watch him perform his piece in this video. pic.twitter.com/J7i3QyVlwG

— Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) July 25, 2018

The Peter McVerry Trust provides low-threshold entry services, primarily to younger people and vulnerable adults with complex needs, and offers pathways out of homelessness based on the principles of the Housing First model.

For more information or to donate to this incredibly worthy cause, head over to the Peter McVerry Trust website.