A family of eight may face Christmas on the streets after being evicted from their home in Blanchardstown.
Denis Cronin and his partner Lorraine Murray have been on the housing list for 12 years. Despite this, they are now facing eviction from their three bedroom house and may be homeless for the holiday season along with their six children.
Fingal County Council have told the family that they are not priority on the list to receive social housing, despite being fourth on the list for over a decade. They are now terrified that they’ll have to face Christmas on the streets and without a home with their six children, the youngest who is just three months old and was born 12 weeks premature.
The couple lost their first-born child 13 years ago, and Denis said he can’t face the thought of losing another youngster because of homelessness.
“We buried our first daughter after she was stillborn.
“I don’t want to have to go homeless on the street with a premature baby and have to bury him as well before we’re considered for a house.
“We’ve been on the waiting list for nearly 12 years, we’re fourth on that list and we’re a family of eight who are one step away from being on the street. How are we not a priority?
“We were told before that the only reason we can’t be housed is because they didn’t have any four-bedroom houses.
“Joan Burton was all over the news and the papers last week saying they have 44 new houses available, 13 of which are four bedroom.
“If there’s 13 four-beds available and we’re fourth on the list, how does that add up?”
Denis and his partner originally applied for housing in 2004, over a decade ago, following the birth of their eldest son Aaron.
Aaron is now 11. He faces the prospect of being homeless at a young age, along with his siblings Leah, nine, Calum, seven, Caithlin, six, Carson, 21 months, and Jace who is just 17 weeks. Jace, who was premature, is still prone to sickness and risks becoming ill if this happens.
“We don’t need this stress, we’re looking at being made homeless in the next few weeks with a baby who’s going to have to be in and out of hospital constantly over the next two years. Because he’s so small he’s open to any passing infection.
“He was born in July – 12 weeks early – and spent the first five weeks of his life in intensive care.”
Fingal County Council told the family that they have no emergency accommodation available and cannot help their situation, despite the fact that new social housing measures were announced just last week. FCC announced that 44 units would be made available to alleviate the effects of the homeless crisis. The units- 31 three-bed and 13 four-bed properties- are located at Rossan Court in Waterville, Dublin 15, which is close to the family’s current home.
On announcing the social housing units, FCC described them as being in a prime location “suitable for families with young children”.