'The figures are stark': Depaul supported 1,600 children facing homelessness last year
David Carroll, chief executive of homeless charity Depaul said one in two people using their 640 temporary beds have been there for over six months.
More than 1,600 children facing homelessness were supported by Depaul Ireland last year, up from 822 the year before, the homeless charity’s annual report shows.
Some 14 babies were born to women in the services, which chief executive David Carroll said highlighted the growing risks of intergenerational homelessness linked to the housing crisis.
The report shows also says: “Concerningly, almost 40% of service users were aged 18-30, with many coming directly from the care system, emphasising the need for early intervention.”
Mr Carroll said one in two people using their 640 temporary beds have been there for over six months.
“It is unusual because our aim is to get people out as quickly as possible,” he said.
“On top of that, one in three are with us over a year. The figures are quite stark in terms of our ability to be able to move people on, and obviously that is down to finding appropriate accommodation for them, throughout the country.”
For children, he said: “The longer families stay in homelessness, the greater the negative impact it does have on families.”
The charity worked with 763 families last year.
“This is something that could provide problems for us in the future, that we absolutely need to settle," said Mr Carroll.
About 30% of the single people in their services are women. Depaul now runs three services for women, including ensuring pregnant women have single rooms and are connected to HSE services.
Overall Depaul supported 7,455 people in beds and community supports, including hostels in Cork and Waterford.
Among these, one in four reported substance use issues. The report said this highlighted “the need for a radical rethink of Ireland’s national drug policy”.
In Dublin, Fiona, who is 48 and asked her surname not be used, has been homeless for 20 years and stopped using heroin 11 years ago.
“I started using heroin at 28 when my partner died,” she said. “He overdosed when I was pregnant on my third son. He was born two days after he died, it was hard.
“I had a house then. I was going through post-natal depression, I was grieving. That’s when my addiction started, I just ended up handing the keys back up, I wasn’t able for it. It was very hard, we’d three little boys.”
She later had a daughter and now has six grandchildren. Fiona has been receiving help from Depaul since last year, and is living in one of their hostels.
"I end up giving up, but this time around I'm not giving up, I'm just going to keep fighting," she said, adding she would like to live alone and "have my own key, be comfortable having a shower, have a full night’s sleep."
"I just wish I had a place they [my grandchildren] could come and stay, and visit overnights with me. You can’t get a proper bond with your grandchildren when you’re in hostels.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
