Homelessness: Mother living in B&B with her family on housing list for 19 years

She has been left with no water for three months in their 'temporary accommodation' and at one stage there was one cooker between seven families because the other one was broken

Annmarie Duffy from Dublin's north inner city is currently living in a state-leased B&B in west Dublin with her husband, and her three children. Photo: Gareth Chaney

A married mother of three children has spoken of the tough challenges she has faced being on the housing list in Dublin for 19 years, saying: “I feel like I don’t own my own life”.

Annmarie Duffy from Dublin's north inner city is currently living in a state-leased B&B in west Dublin with her husband, and her three children. They moved into the 'temporary accommodation', in April 2024 where they remain.

Her children are aged 19, 18 and 10 years old. They are living in one room with two sets of bunkbeds and a double bed.

This article is part of the special report on homelessness. Read more here: 

A national shame: Another Christmas for thousands in emergency accommodation;

Case study: Young mother forced to live in a mobile home after 50% rent rise;

Case study: 'My family has been moved from county to county for two years'.

“It is like being in prison and the council owns me,” she said. “I have no privacy. I am living in one room with three adults. I feel like I don’t own my own life.

“My husband and I sleep in the double bed, and the kids sleep in the bunkbeds.

“There is five of us in the B&B where I am. I am only allowed to stay out three nights a month and two weeks' holiday if I wanted to go out, not that we can afford to go anywhere. 

Annmarie Duffy: 'I would love to be back in the city with my family where I grew up but I am getting nowhere. My two eldest are in college so it is very embarrassing for them.' Photo: Gareth Chaney

"Even when I was in hospital, I had to get a letter for the council to state how long I would be in hospital to hold my B&B and as proof I was staying there”.

Ms Duffy claims she has not seen her key worker for the council in nearly two years “I met her when I moved out here. I have not seen her since," she said.

“I had a meeting with the council recently and they asked me how I am getting on with my key worker and I said I haven’t seen her since I moved in. They seemed shocked and I am not dealing with anyone in the homeless charities.” 

She said because the B&B is on the outskirts of Dublin, she believes she has been “ignored” because the family is not on the doorstep of council workers.

“It is like we are forgotten about out here,” she said. “There were six families here [in the B&B] and then they built an extension and there are now 11 families here.

Annmarie Duffy: 'It is like being in prison and the council owns me.' Photo: Gareth Chaney

“My youngest goes to school in the city centre, and for continuity I have to go in the morning from Castleknock to Dublin.

“That takes over an hour on the bus, and we have to be up at 6am and gone by 6:45am. If there is any traffic on the motorway, we will be late for school. I just hang around town or go into my mother's instead of going home and back.

“I would love to be back in the city with my family where I grew up but I am getting nowhere. My two eldest are in college so it is very embarrassing for them.

“We have no privacy, and the other families are not from Ireland, so I am very isolated too as they have their own language and cultures. I feel like my family is falling apart."

She said there was also a problem with the pipes in the B&B where they were left with no water for three months and at one stage there was one cooker between seven families because the other one was broken. They also have only one wash day between them.

“Everyone does their own food, and if you are not there to get your spot on the cooker you have to wait for other people to finish," she explained.

Annmarie Duffy is entitled to €61 per week for Family Income Supplement. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Annmarie’s husband works 20 hours, and she is entitled to €61 per week for Family Income Supplement (FIS). “The other two kids are in college getting a Susi grant, so I am means-tested.

“I don’t know why I have not been housed. You are just pushed and pushed and pushed. My daughter works 20 hours a week too to support her college course, but I have been told I might not get housing now due to the means test.

“You can’t win, I am trying to make sure my kids are educated. 

I am 19 years on the housing list but there is no home for us and then there is all these walls put in front of you like a means test when we really have no money. 

"There is an empty house near my mams, but the council haven’t assigned it, that could change our whole lives if it were given to us."

She said her place on the housing list regularly “goes up and down”.

“When I asked about my place one time it's 62, then it's 63, then it is 61 and I have no rationale for why it goes up and down.

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"The council said they sent me letters updating me, but I have asked for copies of their letters because I have received no updates.

"I am really at a loss to understand how this is any sort of a life for anyone and how any Government could do this to anyone."

Dublin City Council was contacted for comment.