There has been a 400% increase in people seeking help for addictions since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the addiction recovery organisation Tiglin.
The organisation has had to cancel 70% of its fundraising events this year, which has had a significant impact on its finances.
The Tiglin centre, which opened in 2008, treats around 100 people a day across its residential and day facilities.
Aubrey McCarthy, Chairman of the organisation, said demand for addiction and homeless services has grown "exponentially" during COVID-19.
He said he met with the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and the Minister of State for Drugs Policy Frank Feighan this week in the hopes of increasing funding for the service.
Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show today, Mr McCarthy said there is a six-week waiting list for the women's centre and a wait for two to three months for men.
He added that Minister Donnelly has always been supportive of their work and "gets" how addiction treatment works.
One of Mr McCarthy's suggestions to the Ministers was to allow a person who is struggling with addiction and living in a home with a HAP allowance to go to treatment and have the HAP allowance pay for the treatment.
He said the organisation doesn't have the funding to cater for the number of people who wish to access its services.
He added that there should be a focus on dual diagnosis when treating people with addictions, as many are also dealing with mental health issues.
Mr McCarthy said: "There is hope, there is recovery and there is a way out."
Peter, a graduate of the programme at Tiglin and now a key worker at the organisation, is a testament to this, Mr McCarthy said.
Drugs 'an animal you can't control'
Peter graduated from Tiglin over a decade ago after arriving at the service "on death's door" with a drug addiction.
He said: "I did a lot of rough sleeping on the streets of London and Dublin and addiction brought me to that place.
"I grew up in a very happy background with my mother and father and brother and sister, nothing that would make you think I would be a candidate for addiction.
"But as we know, addiction doesn't have borders and over a period of time, I became chronically addicted to drugs and heroin and ended in me sleeping on the streets.
Peter began taking heroin after using party drugs and said what started off as a "very nice, warm feeling" quickly turned into "an animal that you can't control and that is forever hungry".
He said he had been living a life of isolation before deciding to seek help at Tiglin and beginning his journey towards recovery.
The structured programme gives people time to carry out jobs, reflect, and go to classes at the centres.
There are also workshops and animals such as pigeons and chickens on the grounds.
Peter said: "When guys and girls come into Tiglin they are completely broken a lot of the time.
"Just to spend time with the animals and to stand back and give yourself time to gather your thoughts on where you want to go is just fantastic."
Since graduating from Tiglin, he has completed a course in UCD, set up his own catering company and received a HDip in professional social care.
He is now working with Tiglin while running his business at the same time.
You can find further information on Tiglin's services here.
