Where is a safe place to sleep in car in Dublin?

LegacyUser

Hi,

So it looks like I will end up homeless early next week, widowed father with 2 kids.

(Had house, two good incomes, wife died - life insurance refused to pay out, due to then determining her illness was a pre-existing condition, house repossessed,) cut back work hours to look after kids, in rental accommodation, but rent been increased every 12 months to level I just can't afford anymore and landlord gave notice to vacate.

Cant find anything at all anywhere in the area where the kids are going to school and have some support network, where some of their pals parents very kindly pick them up from school for me and look after them for an hour or so each day.

Im exhausting every option available, talked to all the agencies, searching for emergency accommodation, talked to the council the works...

Was even threatened that my kids could be taken in to care when I went to the HSE because I do have a job, but with school holidays and nowhere for the children to stay during the day, I felt their tone was threatening and they wanted to get a some agency called Tulsa? involved because they felt I couldn't take care of the...

Its a real possibility come Monday when i have to vacate that we may have to sleep in the car. Im really scared as its becoming a potential reality.

Where would be a safe location in Dublin for us to park the car and sleep in it?

ted1

Soon to be homeless wrote: »

Hi,

So it looks like I will end up homeless early next week, widowed father with 2 kids.

(Had house, two good incomes, wife died - life insurance refused to pay out, due to then determining her illness was a pre-existing condition, house repossessed,) cut back work hours to look after kids, in rental accommodation, but rent been increased every 12 months to level I just can't afford anymore and landlord gave notice to vacate.

Cant find anything at all anywhere in the area where the kids are going to school and have some support network, where some of their pals parents very kindly pick them up from school for me and look after them for an hour or so each day.

Im exhausting every option available, talked to all the agencies, searching for emergency accommodation, talked to the council the works...

Was even threatened that my kids could be taken in to care when I went to the HSE because I do have a job, but with school holidays and nowhere for the children to stay during the day, I felt their tone was threatening and they wanted to get a some agency called Tulsa? involved because they felt I couldn't take care of the...

Its a real possibility come Monday when i have to vacate that we may have to sleep in the car. Im really scared as its becoming a potential reality.

Where would be a safe location in Dublin for us to park the car and sleep in it?

Do you have family or did you wife have family ? Did you get good legal advice about challenging the insurance cover ?

Lady is a tramp

I don't mean to be heartless but surely agreeing with TUSLA for your children to go into care short-term is a better solution than having them stay in the car? Just until you've organised proper accommodation?

arayess

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

I don't mean to be heartless but surely agreeing with TUSLA for your children to go into care short-term is a better solution than having them stay in the car? Just until you've organised proper accommodation?

No. care is a emotional sh1thole.

the car mightn't be a great option but emotionally it won't scar the kids as much as being separated from their dad.
poverty won't damage them , losing their dad after their mum passed away could.

I'm not saying that living in the car is a good thing.

OP they must have relatives they can stay with surely?

celligraphy

Op let the kids stay with relatives , get a place any place , you 'll have to make do with an affordable place until you find somewhere better , I know it might be far from family and support but better than them being taken off you and put into care

Neyite

OP, it's concerning that you don't seem to know who Tusla are:

The Child and Family Agency was established on the 1st January 2014 and is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.

They are social services. This is why you need to take this VERY seriously. If you told the HSE that you and your children were going to live on the streets then they would have had to notify Tusla.

You as a family need help. Talk to Tusla, and let them find ways to help you. They, as an organisation, focused on helping families. Their priority is children, and while foster care is sometimes a solution, I imagine its very difficult to arrange and would be a last resort. More than likely it would be far easier for them to help you source housing - emergency or otherwise. It is clear that in your case, as the sole remaining parent, that to remove children from you after the bereavement of their mother would be more traumatic and damaging to them than to work with you helping you get back on your feet.

The HSE might have gotten thick with you and threatened that your kids would go into care, but whichever pencil-pusher you spoke to in there is an idiot for saying that because attitudes like that will only ensure that people are less likely to involve Tusla if other organisations perpetuate the myth that they are just child-snatchers hell bent on ripping families apart.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies, unfortunately I don't have any other living relatives in Ireland maybe long lost distant cousins etc.. and my late wife parents are elderly and don't live in Ireland.

Im trying as hard as I can to find anywhere to rent even far from the schools, highly reliant on the landlord letting agent returning the deposit to me asap.. going as far out as drogheda...

To be honest the attitude of those is the HSE was very unpleasant towards me as a single father... and the threat of bringing in this tusla agency seemed very menacing, because I was genuinely asking for help but they seemed to want to twist things.

But because I am in work etc.. they didn't seem to want to know. I this morning applied to my local credit union for a short loan which hopefully will help to cover any deposit shortfall and maybe a few days in a B&B.

Anyway, If nothing else works out, I would like to know that if we do resort to the car on Monday even if its for a few days where might be a safe place to stay in it?

Sorry for the long reply and thanks for everyones advice, I really appreciate it.

Chemical Byrne

OP, I'm sorry to hear of your situation, it sounds very difficult. If I were in your situation I would hurr it out in the rented place you are in for the moment. I know it is not legit but difficult tenants are known to stick it out in houses even after getting a notice to vacate. Although you would be doing so out of necessity rather than menace. Its something I'd consider at least.

Lux23

OP, have you got in touch with a homeless charity like Simon or Focus?

intheclouds

Dont vacate.

It will take the landlord some time to get you out of there. During that time look for some alternative.

dudara

@Chemical Byrne & intheclouds - please don't advise the OP to overhold. If the termination notice has been correctly issued, the OP has no legal basis to remain in the property

dudara

Chemical Byrne

Can the council put you in a hotel or BnB temporarily as emergency accomodation while you try to sort another place? I thought this was common practice?

Is it because you are working that they will not place you?

screamer

OP my heart goes out to you no one should have to struggle through so much. Sleeping in a car is tough to imagine but no way id let my kids go into care either and it's just disgraceful you are not being helped by council etc. Are there any caravan parks where you could go? I know there's camac valley near citywest they do have pitches for caravans and tents and there are shower facilities etc. I'm not familiar with the rest of Dublin but perhaps there are similar facilities elsewhere? Hound the council etc you deserve help and you need it.

Chemical Byrne

Maybe you could get the council to help you by telling them you're going to go on the radio or something?
In all seriousness, would you tell them you'll get on to joe duffy or whatever other local phone in show that's in your area.

Have you tried phoning your local councillors or TDs to see if they can get anything moving for you?

Rachiee

You are absolutely entitled to emmergency accomodation the council may not be forthcoming initially as they have a very limited budget and they want to encourage people to find their own accomodation. Go to the council first thing monday morning with the children and remain insistent that you have absolutely nowhere to go. Good luck

Sound Bite

Op, I wouldn't normally advocate going down this route but it seems you have exhausted every other opportunity.

Contact the Joe Duffy show on Monday morning and try and get as much publicity as possible....the right agencies may hear about it, a sympathic landlord may be willing to give you short term support. Surely the embarrassment of taking to the airwaves will be worth it if it gets your situation some attention and possibly the right help.

wokingvoter

OP when you presented as homeless to the CWO for homeless persons at your local Health Centre , what did he or she say to you?

LegacyUser

This is disgusting. Truly repellent. Words fail me. I don't know what to say but I feel you need to know that a married father like me in his 40s in a nice secure job is physically sick at the idea of another man having to live in a car with his children. It's hard enough to balance all the financial pressures of work, crèche and childminding. Add in homelessness and I'd crack. My heart utterly sinks at the image of you and your children living in a car.

I would first go to a local TD - avoid the FG and Labour ones, obviously - and they should be more than willing to help. Maureen O'Sullivan seems like the best of the lot of them, but most on the left should be outraged enough to annoy people enough to get a result. I wouldn't like the publicity of going on radio as this is a tiny, tiny society and somebody from my home town would hear me. However, as you don't seem to have that worry, I'd be on the Joe Duffy Show first thing Monday morning. There are a lot of decent people with money in society who would be more than willing to help. Oh, and when things settle down I'd definitely be seeing a solicitor about the Life Assurance company (and let your TD know about that, too).

LegacyUser

Could you walk into a Garda station, explain your situation and ask them could you sleep in the car park for a few nights?

Failing that, when I had my first child I found it very, very scary and suffocating so I got in the car and escaped for 8 or so hours just to cry/breathe/think. I found a nice, very quiet well-off residential area (Idrone Terrace in Blackrock next to the sea), put the seat back and finally fell asleep. Nobody bothered me. There are plenty of places that groups of teenagers, romantic couples etc do not go near.

LegacyUser

You cannot ignore Tusla. They have a state-mandated function, which kicked in as soon as the HSE were aware of your situation. I'm not a social worker, and I'm not employed by any government agent, but in my limited knowledge, I would suggest that you need to act very very fast, before Tusla do, to safeguard your kids environment because you can't.

Get on to your local council, your TDs, local & nationalwide radio - basically do anything, however shameless, to get you and your kids some kind of accommodation. But budgets are so tight that you may have to relocate the kids to a new school, or face a huge commute. Is that not better than sleeping in a car though?

I also wonder about your insurance. Do you believe that your wife had a condition that she didn't declare, which led to her early death? Is there any grounds for fighting this?

leanonme

Have you spoken to Theshold (i think they have an emergency line), they work to help individuals stay in there home. Also just because you are working does not mean you are entitled to some help esp if you are below income levels, you could be able to claim HAP, or family income suplement. Also are you getting widowers pension?

wokingvoter

Bréan de wrote: »

This is disgusting. Truly repellent. Words fail me. I don't know what to say but I feel you need to know that a married father like me in his 40s in a nice secure job is physically sick at the idea of another man having to live in a car with his children. It's hard enough to balance all the financial pressures of work, crèche and childminding. Add in homelessness and I'd crack. My heart utterly sinks at the image of you and your children living in a car.

I would first go to a local TD - avoid the FG and Labour ones, obviously - and they should be more than willing to help. Maureen O'Sullivan seems like the best of the lot of them, but most on the left should be outraged enough to annoy people enough to get a result. I wouldn't like the publicity of going on radio as this is a tiny, tiny society and somebody from my home town would hear me. However, as you don't seem to have that worry, I'd be on the Joe Duffy Show first thing Monday morning. There are a lot of decent people with money in society who would be more than willing to help. Oh, and when things settle down I'd definitely be seeing a solicitor about the Life Assurance company (and let your TD know about that, too).

But all the OP(who appears to have disappeared) has to do is present at the Homeless CWO and emergency accommodation will be provided

via4

I'm not having a go at the people living in the hotels but it seems when you don't work you get a free hotel and free breakfast. I think leaving work they will help you more which is crazy to me. At least by leaving you are there for your kids all the time and hopefully Tulsa won't get involved. If things get bad mineywiise there is a soup kitchen outside the gpo ran by amazing people who will get you and your kids clothes they do great work. Your kids are priority now. Maybe ask someone you know with a driveway would it be ok if you used it as Parking in town can be risky. I hope things get better for you soon.

RebekahD

wokingvoter wrote: »

But all the OP(who appears to have disappeared) has to do is present at the Homeless CWO and emergency accommodation will be provided

I'm wondering if his landlord attempted to up his rent this year as well as last year ?
As in the op he says the landlord increased it every 12 months ? If the landlord did do this then surely that's against new rules ?
As a single father would he not also be entitled to help with his rent ?

dar100

Do not under any circumstances let any agency take your children into an unknown foster placement!! If it transpires that you can't source housing, and TUSLA do become involved, is there any friends you can ask to take the children till you get back on your feet? If so you can sign a voluntary care order, putting them in this persons care. There is also a generous foster care payment available to them, which may act as a motivator if needed.

Contact some agencies for assistance, Focus Ireland, Peter Mc verry Trust, threshold.

Housing in Ireland is a funny thing, it can take some time to evict a person from their home, after been notified to leave. Is your landlord aware that by evicting you he is creating a child protection issue? Two point to reflect on.

I wish you all the best, do not give up. You will do this. Put your children before everything else. It is morally wrong for people to put profit before children, react by doing what's best for those children

popa smurf

<SNIP> Welcome to Personal Issues. Please take the time to read the forum charter before posting again. Posts should offer helpful, constructive advice. Your post did not meet that standard.

dudara

wokingvoter

RebekahD wrote: »

I'm wondering if his landlord attempted to up his rent this year as well as last year ?
As in the op he says the landlord increased it every 12 months ? If the landlord did do this then surely that's against new rules ?
As a single father would he not also be entitled to help with his rent ?

Everybody now working or not is entitled to at least APPLY for help with the rent
You apply to your LA
First of all they must establish that you/your family are "in need of housing"
Then you apply for HAP (housing assistance payment)
Your house technically must be under the rent limits for the area you are living in
This is where the system breaks down
In large urban areas and surrounds there are no rental properties under the rent limits
The OPs story has no ring of truth about it
He would have been offered emergency accommodation by the LA/ Homeless CWO
He appears to have either not asked for help or ignored the help that was offered
As he hasn't come back we don't know why
His query about sleeping in the car is pointless
He is free to sleep in his car if he wants as he is an adult but if the Gardai find his children sleeping in his car then TUSLA/AGS will take the children to a place of safety if he chooses not to cooperate with them
We don't really allow children to sleep rough in this country despite what their parents think

RebekahD

wokingvoter wrote: »

Everybody now working or not is entitled to at least APPLY for help with the rent
You apply to your LA
First of all they must establish that you/your family are "in need of housing"
Then you apply for HAP (housing assistance payment)
Your house technically must be under the rent limits for the area you are living in
This is where the system breaks down
In large urban areas and surrounds there are no rental properties under the rent limits
The OPs story has no ring of truth about it
He would have been offered emergency accommodation by the LA/ Homeless CWO
He appears to have either not asked for help or ignored the help that was offered
As he hasn't come back we don't know why
His query about sleeping in the car is pointless
He is free to sleep in his car if he wants as he is an adult but if the Gardai find his children sleeping in his car then TUSLA/AGS will take the children to a place of safety if he chooses not to cooperate with them
We don't really allow children to sleep rough in this country despite what their parents think

You can only present as homeless once you are actually homeless, at least that is the rules here, you have to go to the council office at 2pm and state that you have no where to live, you still have to do this daily or once a week if they place you in a b&b or hostel to keep your place there active.
And yes parents have been told to sleep rough with there children, and only offered sleeping bags, as emergency accommodations were full including women's refuges, which meant if someone was in desperate need of help they had to be refused which is disgusting, but not relevant to this thread.
I know of a lady who found herself homeless with 2 children, one who's disabled, she went to the council and was told sorry can't help if you go to focus they will give you sleeping bags, she had a young baby and toddler !

RebekahD

Also there was the family with 3 small children sleeping on a bench in Dublin last august.
Due to not receiving help.
The children slept on the bench while the parents kept watch, so sadly yes it can and does happen.

njs030

A guard station or a politicians house as already suggested as the main politicians houses are protected by gardai. The problem of course is if they see you they have to take your children.
Even if this doesn't happen how are you going to wash them? How are their uniforms going to be clean?

Surely you have a friend that can help at least look after your children?
Wouldn't they be better to leave Dublin and move down the country to a place they are safe!

Rachiee

wokingvoter wrote: »

Everybody now working or not is entitled to at least APPLY for help with the rent
You apply to your LA
First of all they must establish that you/your family are "in need of housing"
Then you apply for HAP (housing assistance payment)
Your house technically must be under the rent limits for the area you are living in
This is where the system breaks down
In large urban areas and surrounds there are no rental properties under the rent limits
The OPs story has no ring of truth about it
He would have been offered emergency accommodation by the LA/ Homeless CWO
He appears to have either not asked for help or ignored the help that was offered
As he hasn't come back we don't know why
His query about sleeping in the car is pointless
He is free to sleep in his car if he wants as he is an adult but if the Gardai find his children sleeping in his car then TUSLA/AGS will take the children to a place of safety if he chooses not to cooperate with them
We don't really allow children to sleep rough in this country despite what their parents think

It is indeed against child protection policies for local authorities to knowingly allow children to sleep rough unfortunately what has happened is that local authorities are so short on accommodation that they tell parents that there is no help available hoping that this will force them to look for a last resort and they leave the children with family, couch-surf, or place the children in voluntary care. And that if no alternatives can be found the parent will return before 4 and ask again. Unfortunately some parents take the first no as an answer and do sleep rough with the kids. Also you aren't entitled to help from the local authority until you are actually homeless if you go up saying I'll be homeless on Monday they'll be like fine come back Monday. OP if you haven't actually rang threshold do it now as they are the only people mandated to help until Monday.

screamer

The problem also is that the op has no time to go apply for this that and the next thing. He's been served eviction notice this is an emergency situation.
I don't think it's helpful to post about whether this post is genuine or not. All we know is someone asked a question for help. Perhaps the op has not been back as he has to move out of his accommodation. And have we as a society not learned by now that there are plenty of cases where people needed emergency assistance and it was not given nor available. I hope you are getting something sorted out for you OP.

La.de.da

OP my heart breaks for you and your children. In this day and age it's unbelievable what you are going through.

I agree with other posters in saying contact your local TD, focus Ireland and the Simon community.

I'm not from Dublin so wouldn't know where's safe to stay in your car. Ask local garda. I hope it doesn't come to this for you. Truly.

Gatling

First of all op homeless services won't be engaged until your actually homeless ,
When you walk out the door on Monday you need to go straight to your local authority /County council offices and you will then get assistance,
Highly likely you will be asked to find a hotel to check into and they will cover the cost .
I know several families living in a hotel at Newlands cross ,that's worth checking out .

Don't stay in your car your making things worse as soon as your actually homeless straight to the county council and seek every assistance you can get and don't Move till your helped .

And Good Luck

geldings

Yes, please do not stay in the car with your kids - alone, or with a partner, you could do it short term by sleeping at a beach, remote carpark, etc. but this should only be for a night, a week max... not for kids. Better would be to just ask for help in your local authority and as others have said, you will get emergency accom for you and your kids. Don't risk losing them over this short term problem. Wish you the very best of luck, keep your head clear and calm and use your intelligence wisely.

wokingvoter

RebekahD wrote: »

You can only present as homeless once you are actually homeless, at least that is the rules here, you have to go to the council office at 2pm and state that you have no where to live, you still have to do this daily or once a week if they place you in a b&b or hostel to keep your place there active.
And yes parents have been told to sleep rough with there children, and only offered sleeping bags, as emergency accommodations were full including women's refuges, which meant if someone was in desperate need of help they had to be refused which is disgusting, but not relevant to this thread.
I know of a lady who found herself homeless with 2 children, one who's disabled, she went to the council and was told sorry can't help if you go to focus they will give you sleeping bags, she had a young baby and toddler !

If you know that somebody is sleeping with children outside in sleeping bags then you need to go and report it to the social workers or the Gardai. If every hotel room B&B etc in the immediate locality is full (highly unlikely) then they will be brought to the next nearest place
If anybody here can tell me exactly where and when they saw children sleeping rough overnight I will gladly sort it out. <SNIP>

wokingvoter

RebekahD wrote: »

Also there was the family with 3 small children sleeping on a bench in Dublin last august.
Due to not receiving help.
The children slept on the bench while the parents kept watch, so sadly yes it can and does happen.

Did you witness this Rebekah? Parents being told that there was not a room anywhere for them and the authorities allowing them to have their children sleep rough? <SNIP> Thanks.

RebekahD

wokingvoter wrote: »

If you know that somebody is sleeping with children outside in sleeping bags then you need to go and report it to the social workers or the Gardai. If every hotel room B&B etc in the immediate locality is full (highly unlikely) then they will be brought to the next nearest place
If anybody here can tell me exactly where and when they saw children sleeping rough overnight I will gladly sort it out. <SNIP>

It was reported to the gardai, then to emergency housing. This was how it became public knowledge.
I can't post links here as I'm new but it was last august in Dublin the one I'm referring to.
That the family were sleeping in the park on benches.
The lady with the disabled child is a personal friend of mine and I was there with her for moral support and to help her with the pram and wheelchair,when they told her they couldn't help.
They tried telling her she hadn't looked enough for houses that are wheelchair accessible, or to leave her children with family if she didn't want them on the streets with her ! I was horrified at the way they spoke to her.
She ended up staying with family in the UK.

RebekahD

If you Google family sleeping on bench in park you should be able to find the family I'm referring to it was all over the news at the time, so not something I have dreamt up or invented, sadly I don't need to do that when there is families having to worry day in and day out where they will sleep tonight or tomorrow.

dudara

@workingvoter - welcome to Personal Issues. Please take the time to read the forum charter and please note that the requesting of PMs is not allowed in this forum.

dudara

wokingvoter

RebekahD wrote: »

If you Google family sleeping on bench in park you should be able to find the family I'm referring to it was all over the news at the time, so not something I have dreamt up or invented, sadly I don't need to do that when there is families having to worry day in and day out where they will sleep tonight or tomorrow.

So this was something that you read in the newspaper rather then something that you have personal experience of? And you don't accept that sometimes newspapers publish stories which may not be altogether factual, or maybe they've left important bits out that might shed a different light on the story?
Regarding your disabled friend is it not more factual to say that she was offered accommodation which she felt was not suitable for her?

wokingvoter

dudara wrote: »

@workingvoter - welcome to Personal Issues. Please take the time to read the forum charter and please note that the requesting of PMs is not allowed in this forum.

dudara

Sorry about that dudara

RebekahD

wokingvoter wrote: »

So this was something that you read in the newspaper rather then something that you have personal experience of? And you don't accept that sometimes newspapers publish stories which may not be altogether factual, or maybe they've left important bits out that might shed a different light on the story?
Regarding your disabled friend is it not more factual to say that she was offered accommodation which she felt was not suitable for her?

It was also on a news on TV where many working with the family concerned were interviewed, including the homeless organisation who went to the park in the middle of the night and opened there office to allow them to sleep there, inner city helping the homeless was the organization concerned, it was either the second or third night they were sleeping rough.
I find your tone extremely condescending and patronizing, to say the least !
My friend was offered no alternative accommodation, her home that she had been living in was repossessed by the bank so the landlord could no longer allow her to stay.
Try as hard as she did, houses that have wheelchair facilities are very very few,and she was offered nothing by anyone.
Also it is her child who is disabled not my friend.
This is my last message to you as you seem to not want to believe the way the housing has gone here, and I find your tone insulting.

RebekahD

Should anyone wish to clarify about the family sleeping rough in mountjoy square last August, they can find info on focus Ireland. Barnardo's.ie,, catholic Ireland. Net where brother Kevin Crowley discusses his disappointment how the family were let down.
He was part of the news conference,along with inner city helping homeless.
They might be able to help you op.

Gatling

None of which helps the Op

RebekahD

Gatling wrote: »

None of which helps the Op

Due to how helpful inner city helping the homeless were in that families case they might be able to help the op, or Brother Kevin Crowley might know who can help him.

tomwaterford

RebekahD wrote: »

Should anyone wish to clarify about the family sleeping rough in mountjoy square last August, they can find info on focus Ireland. Barnardo's.ie,, catholic Ireland. Net where brother Kevin Crowley discusses his disappointment how the family were let down.
He was part of the news conference,along with inner city helping homeless.
They might be able to help you op.

^^It was pure wrong that it was let come to that!!


OP...as for parking your car somewhere safe...grounds of a Garda station or church car park???


though if it's just for a night/2 until you can present for homelessness and emergency accommodation....can you get a advance on your pay...or pawn something for cash??

Merkin

Gatling wrote: »

None of which helps the Op

If you've an issue with posts please report them rather than criticising for the sake of it, it's not at all helpful

cruais

Someone mentiones Maureen O Sullivan. I didnt find her the best to deal with, when I needed an issue delt with.

OP, since you haven't been on here to reply, i really hope some solution has come up. It's such an awful situation to be in and I cannot begin to imagine the stress and worry you are under.

I would recommend inner city helping homeless. They seem to do fantastic work. For food you could try the Capuchin Centre in Church St. At least you will be guaranteed a hot meal.

Like others have said, can any friends take you in temporarily while you try sort things out?

In terms of work, could they give you temporary unpaid leave so you could work on trying to find a solution to your situation?

Praying that things have gotten a little better for you.

Christy Burke does fantastic work. Try and contact is constituency office. Also Joe Duffy, Chris Barry Phoneshow.

deseil

RebekahD wrote: »

You can only present as homeless once you are actually homeless, at least that is the rules here, you have to go to the council office at 2pm and state that you have no where to live, you still have to do this daily or once a week if they place you in a b&b or hostel to keep your place there active.
And yes parents have been told to sleep rough with there children, and only offered sleeping bags, as emergency accommodations were full including women's refuges, which meant if someone was in desperate need of help they had to be refused which is disgusting, but not relevant to this thread.
I know of a lady who found herself homeless with 2 children, one who's disabled, she went to the council and was told sorry can't help if you go to focus they will give you sleeping bags, she had a young baby and toddler !

That is total and utter horsesh@t your friend is telling you lies!
You really should check that what your stating as fact is true because everything youve written is false!

tomwaterford

deseil wrote: »

That is total and utter horsesh@t your friend is telling you lies!
You really should check that what your stating as fact is true because everything youve written is false!

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/fury-homeless-family-young-children-6233596

https://www.focusireland.ie/about-homelessness/resource-centre/press/press-releases/979-failing-to-show-leadership


http://www.barnardos.ie/riseup/children-sleeping-rough/

Seems to add up??