Report highlights acute vulnerability of homeless children

Homeless children describe their acute vulnerability and need for someone to care for them in a new report by the ombudsman for children.

Emily Logan said the consultation document, Homeless Truths, allowed homeless children to describe their experiences in their own words.

“None of the children were focused on buildings or physical structures, rather what having a home represented — dignity, self-esteem, feeling safe and secure. That is what really mattered to them.

“As ombudsman for children, I have a responsibility to encourage public bodies to consider children’s rights and welfare when developing policies and practice. Considering the views of children, actual service users, can only enhance such policies,” said Ms Logan.

The ombudsman also has a statutory obligation to hold the State to account for the way it provides services to children.

Ms Logan said that her office was holding over a systemic investigation on the provision of homeless services by the HSE.

When she began the probe last year, the health authority said it was taking steps to mitigate the situation. Ms Logan said she decided to suspend the investigation to allow the HSE to make improvements while providing her office with regular updates on progress made.

The consultation with 15 homeless children under the age of 18 took place between September and December.

Different approaches are taken by the HSE to accommodating homeless children, including emergency fostering, supported lodgings and emergency beds in designated accommodation units.

While participating children in Cork all accessed emergency accommodation directly, all but two of the children in Dublin were admitted through a garda station. While a small minority were critical about they way they were treated by gardaí, most agreed that the police treated them with professionalism, respect and empathy.

However, almost all of the children who accessed emergency accommodation through a garda station said it made them feel embarrassed, ashamed or anxious.

Of the 15 children interviewed, five had spent between one and three months in the services, while seven had used them for over six months.

Six children had been in one placement and six had been in up to three placements. Only three of the eight children in full-time education continued to attend school without any significant interruption while using emergency care services.

Most of the children spent a lot of time hanging around in the streets. Many of the children in Dublin said they spent time drinking or taking drugs and several spoke about how other children like them started becoming involved in criminal activity.

* www.oco.ie