'He’s so content going to bed at night': Homeless mother says getting a house has made her young son 'so happy'

Focus Ireland helped about 18,800 people who were homeless or at risk of losing their homes in 2025, an increase of 4.4% on 2024.

A mother who was homeless has said getting the keys to her new home has transformed her young son.

Savannah Nguyen lived in emergency accommodation in 2024, which she said was “far away and isolating”, before going to a family hub, closer to where she is from in Dublin.

She said she lived with 60 other families at the family hub, sharing cooking and washing facilities, and said when she could not access the shared spaces, she had to eat out or go to family and friends’ homes.

She and her son, who turns three in two weeks, have been given keys to their own home and said it had already made a difference to him.

The Dubliner spoke about her experience at the launch of Focus Ireland’s annual report, where the housing charity said it supported a “record high” number of people last year.

It helped about 18,800 people who were homeless or at risk of losing their homes in 2025, an increase of 4.4% on 2024.

The charity also supported 4,787 children, an increase of 6.3% from 4,502 the previous year, and about 420 young people through its youth and aftercare services.

A total of 2,164 families engaged with Focus Ireland services during 2025, up 5.4% from 2024.

There were 16,734 people living in emergency homeless accommodation across Ireland at the end of last year, including more than 5,000 children.

The latest figures have recorded 17,527 in emergency accommodation, according to the Department of Housing.

Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said every successful move out of homelessness was the result of “months, sometimes years” of work in navigating “complex” systems.

“Homelessness is a childhood issue, as much as it is a housing issue,” he said.

Homelessness can affect a child’s education, friendships, health and sense of safety. No child should spend months or years growing up in emergency accommodation.

Savannah Nguyen was working and renting her home in 2023 when she became pregnant.

After her rent increased and she struggled to access the Housing Assistance Payment, she moved back in with her mother.

“It was very unexpected, it is not a choice,” she said of being homeless.

She and her son, who was 11-months old, then moved out of her mother’s home due to a lack of space and entered emergency accommodation in Co Kildare in 2024, before going to a family hub where she shared kitchen and laundry facilities with 60 other families.

After her son’s father suddenly died in December 2025, she was left with grief and “this huge responsibility”. Focus Ireland recommended she return to education.

She is now in education, involved in work experience at a creche, and has received the keys to their own home.

“Only being in our home a couple of days has made him so happy already,” she said.

“He’s so content in going to bed at night, his appetite has increased — these are all normal everyday things that a child should be feeling and have access to, that he hasn’t before.

“As a mother, you’re forced to be strong and put on a brave face, and get on with things, but I would say mothers and families, don’t ignore your own feelings, always reach out for support, no matter what you’re feeling there is always someone out there to listen and help. Don’t dismiss the impact they could have on your life.”