'So, the hell started. I went homeless': Children who arrive here alone need supports

Children who arrive in the State alone need wraparound supports, particularly after they turn 18 when they move straight from the care of Tusla into homelessness, writes Wayne Stanley

Turning 18 can be a particularly precarious moment. Entitlement to aftercare services and support is dependent on the length of time spent in care before reaching 18, with many separated young people not meeting this threshold. For those who remain in the international protection process, access to all important aftercare support is no longer available. File photo

“You get a cake. Then you have to leave.” This is how one young person described turning 18 while in the care of the State. What should be a reason to celebrate can, for many separated children, become the start of homelessness, instability and fear.

Today, Empowering People in Care (EPIC) will launch new research, Be Strong – There’s so many problems waiting, highlighting the experiences of separated children and young people seeking international protection in Ireland. The research, conducted by Dr Muireann Ní Raghallaigh, Dr Joanne Kelleher and Professor Prospera Tedam, shows the courage and resilience of these children and young people, alongside the gaps in the system that leave them at risk.