Legal challenge over refusal of emergency housing

A homeless lone mother and her four children, one of whom has epilepsy, have brought a legal challenge over repeated refusals by a local authority to give them emergency accommodation.

The woman claims she was forcibly removed by security staff from the offices of South Dublin County Council on October 6, one of “numerous” dates she sought accommodation, and fears her family, homeless since late September, will end up sleeping rough shortly unless the High Court intervenes.

“My family is now in a desperate situation as we face into winter with no access to accommodation. We are moving night on night, relying on the goodwill of friends which is not sustainable,” she said.