This is a story about a young man who was homeless. A man, David Bissett, whose life at that point, in his early twenties, had descended so far into the gutter that he was shuffling between homeless shelters on the streets of Dublin.
At his weakest moment he got a phone call. Hindsight tells us that phone call probably saved his life. But hindsight is a devil to appreciate in the present moment, for it was not a conversation that many would’ve interpreted as life saving at the time.
David Bissett was about to take full custody of his 3 year old daughter. Homeless, jobless and adrift from the world. A young Dubliner in the grips of and struggling with a myriad of addictions.
It is not a simple story, and at over 7,000 words, not a short one either. It requires a little investment of your time. But, like me, you might learn a thing or two about a thing or two. There have been mistakes aplenty along the way. Blind alleys and cul-de-sacs. Self inflicted wounds on occasion. But undoubtedly the success shines brighter for the struggle.
Before I begin, I must admit, I keep coming back to the phone call in my mind. What resonates is that in the moment of his life when he was most down on his luck and down on his knees David still tried to walk. And there is inspiration in that.
Yes, David Bissett was a pill popper, a marijuana addict and an alcoholic. A homeless person. But crucially he was also a man who ran towards a daughter he was not equipped to raise. And not away.
David Bissett was a pre-teen soccer fanatic who Everton football club were interested in bringing over on a trial. It is fitting that football should feature prominently in this interview, for 20 years later, in 2017, David captained Ireland at the Homeless World cup in Norway. In many ways, this is the story of his journey in between.
He’s a much changed and stronger man today. Someone you’d be happy to call a friend. Someone Marian I’m sure is proud to call her dad. But even today Life continues to offer it’s tests. On Monday, David received an eviction notice to vacate the apartment he and his daughter call home. From the street to recovery to captaining your country. And what does the state offers as a reward ?
An invitation to more homelessness?
This is David’s story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
(Interview transcript from February 2020)