Mother-of-one faces homelessness as temporary stint in hotel ends

By Maurice Garvey

A MOTHER-of-one says she will be the latest homeless statistic from today (June 9) – when a temporary stint in a hotel expires, leaving her with nowhere to live.

Eva O’Driscoll (35), was living in a council home in the Westbourne area of Clondalkin, paying €900 a month in rent for five years, until the house changed ownership.

She was told to move out by the new owners, and left the house on May 20.

On the housing list for seven years, Eva says her rent allowance threshold and personal circumstances, have made it impossible to find another place to live.

Eva said: “I’m homeless at the moment, just trudging from place to place. I was staying at a hotel in O’Connell Street for a week, which was a joke, and then in a Tallaght hotel for a week, which finishes up on Thursday.

“My son who is four, goes to school in Clondalkin. I need to be near the school, and lived here all my life. I asked a support group for help, and they told me to pitch a tent near the school and find my own sleeping bag.”

The three-bed semi-detached Westbourne home Eva lived in for five years, is listed as sold as of Wednesday this week.
Eva contin-ued: “Anytime I try to ring for a new place, once they find out it’s rent allowance, they don’t want to know. It’s discrimination. Irish people should be able to live in Ireland.”

Fr Peter McVerry blasted “apartheid Irish style” during a recent seminar in Clondalkin, by agencies to address the growing issue of homeless families in Clondalkin.

Speaking at the Rowlagh Church seminar, Fr McVerry said normal responses are “not working” and fears a “flood of homelessness coming down the road” unless there is a “radical response.”

He warned of “discrimination” in hotels, where homeless families and kids are not allowed use communal areas or facilities.
“It wasn’t a priority of the last government, I urge people to lobby politicians to put this at the top of the agenda,” said Fr McVerry.

“We need legislation to prevent banks evicting families until they have found a new home. Communities need to identify vacant homes in their area, and name and shame the owners if necessary.”