In yet another stark indictment of the appalling conditions left behind by the outgoing coalition government, it has emerged this morning that a homeless family with a terminally ill child were forced to sleep in a car for three weeks before they were given emergency accommodation in a hotel.
The shocking news were revealed by children charity Barnardo’s in a recent report. They also revealed that the housing crisis has now become widespread and commonplace across Ireland, with thousands of children living in unsuitable and unsafe environments.
The report, titled ‘The Hidden Housing Crisis’, lays bare to the horror of homelessness created and supported by the outgoing government.
June Tinsley, head of advocacy at Barnardos, said that “In addition to the 1,600 children living in that environment, we must add many thousands more who are living in overcrowded, unsuitable and sometimes unsafe homes, unable to move or demand better because they have no other options.
“While there have been some positive developments in housing policy in the past year, the reality is their impact is yet to be felt. The first job of any new government must be to take immediate action.”