5,571 Homeless Children in Ireland: Sophie, Dembélé, and Anna Share Experiences

Sophie (11) and her family lost their Dublin home almost a year ago and have since lived in two emergency accommodations. They now share one small room with a bunk bed, where Sophie sleeps with her mother. She recalls bugs in their first accommodation and constant noise and strict rules in their current hotel, where staff “shout” at children. Sophie is one of 5,571 homeless children in Ireland, a number that has increased by almost 20 percent in a year. She is part of Focus Ireland’s children and youth panels, established a year ago to amplify the voices of homeless children.

Dembélé (14) has lived in Dublin city-centre emergency accommodation with his three siblings and parents for over two years. They share two rooms and a communal kitchen, where children are not allowed. He desires more space and peace, noting the stress on his parents and the boredom for his younger siblings who cannot have friends visit or play alone. Anna (16) from west Dublin was homeless for three years with her mother and two younger brothers until last summer. She moved four times between accommodations, experiencing anxiety, nightmares, and panic attacks due to the noise and instability. She often had to take two buses to school, leading to exhaustion.

Anna kept her struggles to herself to avoid burdening her mother, who she sometimes heard crying at night. She describes the immense relief when her family was allocated a house, allowing her to have her own room, invite friends, and sleep peacefully. The number of homeless children in Dublin has increased by 505 percent since November 2014, reaching 4,118 in 1,866 families. These children’s stories highlight the severe impact of Ireland’s housing crisis, which the Department of Housing aims to address with its upcoming Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan.