Rory Hearne: The housing crisis is scarring a generation of children

A quarter of all children are growing up in the insecure private rental sector and their potential is being reduced due to ill health caused by housing stress, says Rory Hearne

Last year 3,038 households renting were served a notice to quit, mainly because the landlord was selling up. This is the highest number of tenant evictions in a single year in this country since the foundation of the State.

A generation of children are being scarred and traumatised by the housing crisis. They and their families are living in a state of unease and fear.

On Monday’s Liveline, a father recounted the devastating impact on his partner and children, an eight-year-old and 11-month-old twins, when they had to leave their rental home because the landlord was selling up. They could not find anywhere else to rent and were told by the council to go to a Garda station.