Homeless Couple Living in a Car in Tallaght

Generic Dreadhead · 24-11-2014 05:53PM #1

Reading this story it just seems to reek of a mentality that is not right, they could easily move out of the area, they have a car for transport, during the day she could spend with family and then he could work and pick her up in the evenings etc.

I'm not normally one to wade in on the whole "we needs our benefits" peoples threads. Just with these 2 it seems like this is not a case of circumstances but rather a balance of circumstance and choice. If someone told me I'd have to live a bit further away from my family or live in a car, I'd be looking around on Daft.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/dublin-couple-sleeping-in-their-car-for-three-weeks-1.2012427

Neither is working. Ciara has severe agoraphobia and experiences panic attacks. Shane has effectively become her carer. She cannot be alone for extended periods. Also, if he did take up employment they would lose their rent allowance. As a safe home is so important for Ciara’s mental health, he says retaining the rent allowance had been a priority.

Fair enough I guess,

As a couple, they are entitled to €540-a-month rent allowance and allowed to pay a rent capped at €750 per month. “We haven’t been able to find anywhere,” she says. Staying around west Tallaght is important as she needs to be near her sisters, she says

Wait, what the ****

We go down to the council every day asking them if there’s anything,” says Shane. “They just keep saying there’s six couples ahead of us. One guy, when he heard we were sleeping in our car, said, ‘At least you’re in out of the rain’.”

Ummmm..... reality check there i'd say

Is this a case of people being so used to having allowances/benefits that they cannot think laterally and come up with a solution better than this?

Don't get me wrong, I feel for anyone who ends up homeless, and it can happen to anyone, circumstances can make life really tough at times and pull the rug out from under you.... but this story reminds me of the family in the (new and empty *cough cough*) tent on the pavement.... more sob-story than tragic, avoidable so to speak

I hope they can figure out a solution

seamus · 24-11-2014 05:56PM

I can't afford a 5-bed house in Rathfarnham, I think I'm going to go live in my car and have a whinge about how I need to be nearer to my daughter's grandparents but shure isn't it terrible Joe dat de economee is keepin me dowin?

Nino Brown · 24-11-2014 06:04PM

"Staying around west Tallaght is important as she needs to be near her sisters, she says"

The sisters are more than likely on the dole and RA too, they could all move down the country. Then they all get houses, they all get to be together, and the taxpayer saves money too.

piperh · 24-11-2014 06:10PM

Hold on shouldn't they have already lost their rent allowance if they aren't renting??

Highflyer13 · 24-11-2014 06:13PM

Pair of whingers, hoping that the state gives them all their needs and wants. F**k off :-(

ScumLord · 24-11-2014 06:13PM

I'm confused by that article. It says they're getting rent allowances but they're living in a car? Could they not just rent a room in a cheap hotel or hostel? Not to mention the writers inability to do percentages.

I guess if that's what they want to do, they're choosing to stay in a car until something more in line with their desires comes up. They could move elsewhere they just don't want to, so I find it hard to feel sorry for them.

Mr.McLovin · 24-11-2014 06:13PM

seamus wrote: »

I can't afford a 5-bed house in Rathfarnham, I think I'm going to go live in my car and have a whinge about how I need to be nearer to my daughter's grandparents but shure isn't it terrible Joe dat de economee is keepin me dowin?

In all fairness its Jobstown they can't afford to live in, I wouldnt live there if it was free tbh

Donkey Oaty · 24-11-2014 06:14PM

I'd like to know if they been offered temporary emergency accommodation, because they seem to qualify. If not, why not? If so, why did they refuse?

Don Kedick · 24-11-2014 06:16PM

Something seems off about that article, doesn't seem factual. It wont stop those lucky to have jobs and a home slagging off those less fortunate.

Banjo String · 24-11-2014 06:18PM

Nino Brown wrote: »

"Staying around west Tallaght is important as she needs to be near her sisters, she says"

The sisters are more than likely on the dole and RA too , they could all move down the country. Then they all get houses, they all get to be together, and the taxpayer saves money too.

Would you mind explaining, how in under jaysus you arrived at that conclusion

Generic Dreadhead · 24-11-2014 06:19PM

Banjo String wrote: »

Would you mind explaining, how in under jaysus you arrived at that conclusion

It said this in the article:

While both have family living in the area, they say they can’t stay with them as they live in council houses and it would breach their leases to overcrowd their homes.

Not sure how RA goes/does not go with Council housing though

Rightwing · 24-11-2014 06:22PM

If they want more space, why not get a transit van ?

Banjo String · 24-11-2014 06:22PM

Cormac... wrote: »

It said this in the article:

Not sure how RA goes/does not go with Council housing though

Yeah that was my point.

I know loads of folk on the dole, (some even from Tallaght) who I'm pretty certain aren't / weren't ever "in the Ra."

0byme75341jo28 · 24-11-2014 06:24PM

Banjo String wrote: »

Yeah that was my point.

I know loads of folk on the dole, (some even from Tallaght) who I'm pretty certain aren't / weren't ever "in the Ra."

RENT ALLOWANCE

:pac:

seamus · 24-11-2014 06:24PM

Banjo String wrote: »

Yeah that was my point.

I know loads of folk on the dole, (some even from Tallaght) who I'm pretty certain aren't / weren't ever "in the Ra."

RA = Rent Allowance

Nino Brown · 24-11-2014 06:25PM

Banjo String wrote: »

Yeah that was my point.

I know loads of folk on the dole, (some even from Tallaght) who I'm pretty certain aren't / weren't ever "in the Ra."

Haha, RA = Rent Allowance:pac:

Don Kedick · 24-11-2014 06:26PM

Hahhahahahaha that's hilarious. Anyone in a council house is in the ra. ahahahahhahahaha

0byme75341jo28 · 24-11-2014 06:27PM

Aw, we'll have Banjo String all embarrassed. Hope he doesn't have a quick temper, he might snap

Fuhrer · 24-11-2014 06:27PM

Don Kedick wrote: »

Hahhahahahaha that's hilarious. Anyone in a council house is in the ra. ahahahahhahahaha

hahahahahaha

Birneybau · 24-11-2014 06:27PM

Think that says more about Banjo String's subconscious...

Birneybau · 24-11-2014 06:28PM

Harmoni Ripe Overlap wrote: »

Aw, we'll have Banjo String all embarrassed. Hope he doesn't have a quick temper, he might snap

He will if we wind him up too much.

the_syco · 24-11-2014 06:30PM

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

I'd like to know if they been offered temporary emergency accommodation, because they seem to qualify. If not, why not? If so, why did they refuse?

I doubt there's parking at emergency accommodation, but they may also have declined it due to her agoraphobia.

As a safe home is so important for Ciara’s mental health, he says retaining the rent allowance had been a priority.
As a couple, they are entitled to €540-a-month rent allowance and allowed to pay a rent capped at €750 per month. “We haven’t been able to find anywhere,” she says. Staying around west Tallaght is important as she needs to be near her sisters, she says.

I'm pretty sure as they're not living in a house, that it would be lost? I'm guessing they want to stay in Jobstown so they can claim the same amount, as I think if they went to a new area they wouldn't be able to claim RA from the get-go (I think they have to rent for a few months before they can start getting RA).

Generic Dreadhead · 24-11-2014 06:30PM

Don Kedick wrote: »

that's hilarious accurate. Anyone the majority of people in a council house is are in the ra Real IRA.

FYI

jk

ScumLord · 24-11-2014 06:32PM

the_syco wrote: »

I doubt there's parking at emergency accommodation, but they may also have declined it due to her agoraphobia.

Don't really understand how a tiny car where you can see the outside perfectly well is a better place to live than, any accommodation. You'd think living in a car would be the worst place for someone with agoraphobia.

Donkey Oaty · 24-11-2014 06:33PM

"I am passionate about the RA and think it stands for all the very best in British cultural life."
- Stephen Fry

Source: www.royalacademy.org.uk

the_syco · 24-11-2014 06:35PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Don't really understand how a tiny car where you can see the outside perfectly well is a better place to live than, any accommodation. You'd think living in a car would be the worst place for someone with agoraphobia.

Emergency accommodation may be her and another 20 homeless people in the one dorm, or it may be herself and himself in the one room. Of course they don't specify what was offered to them already.

CucaFace · 24-11-2014 06:36PM

'Ciara has severe agoraphobia and experiences panic attacks'

Well that's a convenient excuse for both of them not to have to work for a living....

I would imagine its an easy enough 'illness' to get signed off by a doctor so you can sponge of the country for the whole of your life.

Spanish Eyes · 24-11-2014 06:42PM

I don't think there is any need for anyone to be homeless like this today in Ireland.

I know there are homeless out there, but a lot of them are outside the loop and are not in a position to know the system, or actually don't want to know it... if you get me. We are a caring society really.

As for Ciara and Shane. OMG. I would ask why

A. They can't get a hotel room for a while courtesy of the taxpayer... nice and warm etc.
B the sisters don't put them up for a few days to keep them warm. That is basic stuff that any family would do, and feck the rules, if there are any for short term guests. AndI don't believe there are. Otherwise, no one could have their kids, grandkids etc. sleep over. I'm sceptical.

Anwyay, I wish them luck.There are too many sob stories out there. If you need shelter, you will take anything rather than sleep in a cold metal bucket of a car FGS.

This doesn't seem right to me. There is probably more to this story.,

mikemac1 · 24-11-2014 06:45PM

Maybe one day a civil servant who is far smarter then me could bring in a scheme that if you start working you don't instantly lose your rent allowance. Some sort of gradual scheme.

Those two will never take up work unless they can get good money jobs. And the days of pulling several hundred a week labouring on sites are gone and may never return

0byme75341jo28 · 24-11-2014 06:46PM

CucaFace wrote: »

'Ciara has severe agoraphobia and experiences panic attacks'

Well that's a convenient excuse for both of them not to have to work for a living....

I would imagine its an easy enough 'illness' to get signed off by a doctor so you can sponge of the country for the whole of your life.

I'm sure you know much more about it than the doctor who signed off on it...

Don Kedick · 24-11-2014 06:46PM

A lot of people here are very out of touch with the realities for a lot of people in this country.

Homeless Couple Living in a Car in Tallaght

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