Ireland’s hidden homeless crisis: my life in a hotel room

Nuala and her teenage daughter, Laura, were suddenly evicted from their Dublin home when their landlord of 10 years was forced to sell by his creditors.
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With Dublin and Ireland grappling with a housing crisis, they haven’t been able to find a new place to rent. Despite having been on the council house waiting list for more than six years they are still only around 600th in line. Now, like almost 10,000 other people and 1,700 families across Ireland, Nuala and Laura are homeless. Phoebe Greenwood went to Dublin to meet them and look into Ireland’s hidden homelessness epidemic.
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#hiddenhomeless #homeless #homelessness #ireland

[@JScot92]

You can tell the mum is putting on a brave face for the sake of her daughter. Must be hard to be in such a situation with anxiety and depression. Her daughter is lucky to have such a fine mother.

[@johnnypham2850]

Honestly proud of that Mum for pushing through

[@avengernemesis7990]

To be homeless in the country of your birth is unforgivable.

[@avengernemesis7990]

@juanka galindo No...let's be intelligent about this... Here the refugees get homes from the government and the local council's. The people who are born here are homeless... 6000 people are homeless in my state, while the refugees sleep soundly in their bed in their home provided by the state. Why are the people homeless..I.e. unaffordable homes, putting strain on the rental market.. New Zealand/ Australia have the most expensive homes to purchase in the world. 66 suburbs in Sydney where houses are over 4 million dollars. Australia is a multicultural society and we take so many refugees in per year..but somehow the people who are born here fall in between cracks. Does that answer your question

[@duallove6909]

" you become numb " ... This stage is even worse and more painful than angry. You reach the point where you can't even cry.

[@jaworskij]

This is but one example of why the middle aged white male suicide rate is going skyhigh

[@witchesofessex1]

So sorry. That happened to us here in the US. We didn't have a car and I worked full time. 2yrs homeless but we made it. I wish them good fortune.

[@nikhilsukumar23]

Dear friend, may I do that too? How can I get a job in the US? I'm in India btw.

[@valeriadelrio-rodriguez4953]

@@nikhilsukumar23 I recommend a diff. Country lol u.s. dream died w.kennedy

[@KathyHagle]

Glad you got out of that, working my way out as well. See my comment on most of the details.

[@angelika_munkastrap4634]

You were working full time, wow and still couldn't afford a place to rent? How awful. I feel sorry I had a good family and always a roof over my head, my life hasn't been rosey sure but I've honestly had no want or major complaint. Difference in country maybe? I'm Australian

[@Autisticgyal]

Nikhil Sukumar that won’t ever happen lol

[@womynchick]

This happens in Canada to. I spoke to a pregnant woman who currently lives in a tent in Northern Canada. The government told her that she will get a hotel room ‘once the snow hits the ground’

[@freebeerfordworkers]

Twenty five years ago in Britain we had a surplus of housing across the country literally thousands of empty modern properties. Then the government threw open the doors to the whole world and now we have a crisis and everyone in the media wonders why!

[@1234smileface]

I am very ashamed of my government as an Irishman. They need to cop on and look at those around them instead of giving themselves pay rises every year.

[@lifeisgood2542]

1234smileface why should they care if it is not election time?

[@FurnitureFan]

Homeless people can't register to vote - why should rich politicians care? They aren't public servants any more. They're landlords.

[@alejandrasoto48]

The SAME thing happens in Mexico 🇲🇽 Politicians just giving themselves rises

[@user-cy4vw1qj9m]

I'm Irish our homeless crisis is tottaly disgrace . I can't see why the government don't built lots of social like they did years ago

[@cq1903]

And now they are taking in thousands of Ukrainians, beggars belief

[@deceptivepanther]

And those responsible for the financial crash still get their bonuses.

[@none-qb8wg]

Not just the banks fault people where greedy esp Ireland I know how they lived. Well beyond there means. Cr cards loans u name it easy to blame the banks. Yes there at fault as well. But people in Ireland had it all. I use to see them spending on cr cards. Loans. Etc. Sorry but if u was a banker and u got offered a 25000 euros would u not take it, she should be looking. For a job help her self

[@deceptivepanther]

@@none-qb8wg The trick, you will find, is that powerful people who have messed up will always find a way to make it look like it was the fault of poor people. They rely on uneducated people to believe their lies. The greed extant in Ireland at the time was appalling but in fairness; people were only spending money that they thought they had. The people who knew it was all a con; are still getting paid.

[@brucewayne3141]

The ones who borrowed money to buy houses that they can't afford are the ones responsible, not the banks.

[@johnchase4408]

@@brucewayne3141 yep

[@deceptivepanther]

@@brucewayne3141 I know how you feel, however; people were led to believe that they could afford those houses. Are you suggesting that everyone with a mortgage knows exactly how they're going to repay it? Of course not; modern life isn't like that. We all rely on the advice and leadership of other people who in turn have a duty not to be self serving liars and cheats. Stop defending the cheats sir, they don't deserve it.

[@user-rv8jb9xd6h]

I cried watching this. I work my husband works but we have no home. I work 40 h a week and my husband 50 or even more 56 a week and cannot find place to rent...

[@hezo8958]

3 years later we are worse than ever

[@lifeisgood2542]

rich becomes richer. poorer becomes poorer. middle-class trying to hang on, lest they slip and will move to the poor class. life is tough for middle class and poor people.

[@UnorthodoxlyEsthetic]

stop saying that sentence. it is a TRANSFER. a wealth transfer, always going from the poor to rich stop saying it like the rich make their own money. they dont. they get it from the poor

[@kaymoon999]

Prayers sent to all seeking their own homes everywhere in this world!

[@jojobee42]

I always had compassion for homeless people and knew life is really hard for them - this is something I pondered about already when I was a child. But it wasn't until I had to experience it myself, that I knew how *bad* it really feels like. The feeling of hopelessness cripples you, the anxiety, the uncertainty, the fear.... The anxiety feels like an elephant sitting on your chest every waking moment. Suddenly you see everything so differently - like people walking on the streets; you know who has a home to go to, because they walk with a destination - their speed is faster, their steps are determined - they're walking with a purpose, they have somewhere to go to. You also start to look at buildings and see empty flats in them - it's a sad and frustrating feeling, to see empty flats while you have nowhere to go. You pay attention on laughing people on the streets - it's like watching them from another dimension. Even the sense of time changes - it starts to go slower... To get through just one day is an accomplishment. And when you go to sleep at night, you hope you wouldn't wake up in the morning - that's how difficult it is. And bridges? Bridges look so different when you're homeless - they suddenly serve a different purpose, a way out.

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

I'm hoping you have a determined step to your walk now. A true destination called "Home!"

[@nelsonkiiru7252]

Yap feels the same as being in debt and having money problems!Same feeling u don't wish to wake up the following day, u feel time is moving too slowly too. Exactly as u have described it!

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

@Jojo You sure made a powerfully poignant statement. The picture, the scene, and the emotions you experienced were painted clearly in my minds eye. I truly hope you are on more solid ground these days. (BTW.....You have an absolutely wonderful way of writing and drawing the reader into the environment and mind-set of what you describe. So, I was wondering if you'd ever considered writing articles or maybe even a book concerning this very real and far too often, common dire life situation?!)

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

@@nelsonkiiru7252 Keep your sense of self and purpose. Yes, you are going thru a really rough patch right now, but know that this is temporary. Keep reading the other comments on this page to give yourself hope and encouragement, as others share their own hard struggle to cope and to climb out of this dark life experience. (I'm reminded of that old Phil Collins song....."Another Day In Paradise.") Here's truly praying and hoping that life starts turning around for you in the very near future!!

[@nelsonkiiru7252]

@@gloriamaryhaywood2217 Thank You!!All will be well with time i believe it!

[@Shridra]

It's so very scary when you can no longer live at the place you've lived at long term. Our previous apartment, where we lived for 4 years, was foreclosed on when our son was only 3 months old. We were so very lucky to find a place, but now, 4 years later, I can still remember that panic =( I hope to never have to feel that again, and I feel so much for those who get that notice.

[@BlanceDevereaux]

The upside is that their hotel accommodations are nice and with lovely ocean views. They have a car and are not wanting for food or heating. The daughter is now an adult and in university so as hard as it is for her emotionally, she's actually on an excellent path to adulthood and career. The mother is addressing her depression as best she can and the mother/daughter have a lot of love for each other which is great to see. I hope mother gets some sort of stable home - or even a house share with another single mother. Daughter can work part-time and during summers and I don't know if mother is working but she seems pretty intelligent so even 30 hours a week would see her through. Their sole issue is housing - once that is sorted they'll be ok, they honestly have it ok compared to many other "homeless" situations. I think they'll both be fine in the end. I hope so, they seem decent people.

[@catlady7135]

BlancheDevereaux The fact that they have a car means they are a notch above other people who have to stay in hotels

[@whotelakecity2001]

That's the thing with homelessness. From afar, it appears that it happens only to people who deserve it. And no one who is in not in their situation will know and understand the full scope of how life changing experience it is and not in a positive way. It shaves years off life expectancy.

[@iedenroc9445]

endlessummer One year homeless for a woman is equal to 8 for a man.

[@catlady7135]

iEden Roc Are you saying woman get placed in housing before men do?

[@nikhilsukumar23]

I knew it had to be Blanche.

[@shaylenwayne9284]

I've seen a bunch of videos like this lately and the scary thing is even after watching there are people that blame the poor working person for their situation.

[@BSBSPSensGirl88]

As a child, I used to think that people became homeless just by having mis-managed their money. If only it were that simple!

[@pennyhancock5296]

30.000 empty houses in Dublin alone - so why do we need to build more houses? Release the stock that exists

[@jonova3187]

Tracy Williams did you miss the part where he said “empty”?

[@margaretvan4909]

Too sensible Penny. You're absolutely right but it's all a lack of political will to do the right thing. Citizens in Ireland are only important when elections are around the corner. There is a complete lack of organisation and performance regarding housing policy all across the EU. If the irish government had its KPI's sorted on social housing, all deserving people would be housed along with a safety net for vulnerable members of the population.

[@pattersonellen]

This is also happening in Mexico. Even the USA has foreign corporations buying up propeties to rent at high prices. I thought Trump said he would fix this. He had 4 years. Most likely lined the pockets of his rich banker friends.

[@valeriab9735]

It shows you that the government's do not want to fix the problem they like the problem it puts people in a position where they are totally controlled by the government and we'll have to submit to whatever their demands are

[@JasmineDev]

My daughter and I lived in a hotel room for over a year. No kitchen. Ended up getting diabetes and nearly died. But six months in tents was even worse. It can be hard to find an affordable place when you are a single parent.

[@stumack9755]

too many doughnuts & not enough apples.

[@mariekatherine5238]

Diabetes? That’s terrible. At least you did have a hotel room. I lived five months in a tent, lost my stuff, had to resort to begging for blankets when the weather got cold, below freezing in October. When you’re single and childless, it’s even worse. It didn’t matter that I was 61 and suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and have a heart murmur, result of rheumatic fever in my early twenties.

[@trevorphillips3340]

@@mariekatherine5238 hope you're doing better now

[@Cloudbuster1987]

I live in another country, and we also have a housing crisis. The rent prices are soaring, the working class and those with disabilities can't afford a decent place, but the government doesn't care... all they do is talk, they're not thinking long term, you must build more houses that are accessible for the poor. And I disagree with those who say- oh, but they have a car, and the hotel is so nice! Are you kidding me? Would you like to be tossed around every two weeks, never being able to settle, not having a place to call your home, in the freezing cold? It's just a bloody struggle, have some empathy. Our world is falling apart and we can't keep on pretending it's okay, when it's not. I'm not from the UK, or the US, but it happens where I live as well. All over the globe.

[@rainbowpierrot1951]

It is absolute madness that we allow this to happen to people

[@dcg590]

They allowed it to happen.

[@farazvfx]

its called voting. People vote for politicians to make this happen.

[@annapachaclarke2392]

@@dcg590 NO, you did, we all did, because of corrupt politicians!

[@Roo408]

I live in a bedsit converted garage, cold fog out my mouth, damp cold under my pillow, waking up coughing, I'd have a better chance in Ireland if I was a foreigner, that's a fact

[@pija9505]

A chance !? Rather..? they turn off the roughsleepers payment. Evil.. is live backwards. .

[@justinebourke9449]

To have to go on medication for such stress caused by no fault of their own..it's disgusting that so many are homeless in a country absolutely full of vacant houses..

[@mimpikujadigurulaskarpelangi]

She is laughing and smiling but inside she's hurt and crying. 😭

[@arstd99]

Yes she is. Thank you for noticing and more importantly for caring. Not enough of you around!

[@realnoahsimpson]

me and my family are currently facing homelessness, this really moved me, I’m delighted that they finally found a home

[@bluediamond1414]

Sending love to you and yours, hope times get easier for you 💛

[@realnoahsimpson]

@@bluediamond1414 much better now - we’ve found a new home 😀

[@bushcraftboatman2275]

The homeless numbers have now reached 11,000 and getting worse as we speak. We've also had more than 70,000 migrants, 52,000 from Ukraine arrive this year, and this number is only going to increase. It's a perfect storm and the future, unfortunately, looks very bleak for a lot of people who do not deserve to be in this situation. There is no easy quick solution but the government have to treat this as a national emergency.

[@monicasynnott9273]

Everyone needs a place to call HOME

[@gloriaf6971]

I bought a condominium apartment about 30 years ago. It was the best decision I ever made. Paying rent is not the way to go.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

What is frightening is that these two ladies are pleasant intelligent women who find themselves in this dire situation. They aren't druggies, drunks or socially inept people. Hopefuly they find PERMANENT housing, particularly the daughter who needs a stable enviroment as she is a student.

[@joniekerins4906]

Very ignorant comment

[@AT-qh5zx]

Yeah because the addicted and the socially inept should just stop being like that and get permanent house like you

[@homolgus1]

I do not understand a few years back Ireland had way too many houses there was Ghost estates where have the houses gone?

[@ConsoleHandheldGamer]

Abandoned and left to rot, thieves stole things like copper wires from the buildings.

[@therosarylady]

It's WORLD WIDE .... went through it with my teenage! We are full time RV ers now!

[@ann-mariebaker118]

I know exactly how she feels, I'm in a similar position myself right now. All the best to her, lovely lady & her daughter xx

[@AngieLembo]

I'm in the same, as well.

[@sarahmc8309]

Same and I felt that weird feeling of walking on the street after coming out of the hub I am in and everything felt and seemed so so different it was crazy.

[@sabasiddiqui429]

I am so glad they finally found a home. I hope these beautiful ladies never ever have to go through this again. I pray for them and all those 1,700 people out there living in emergency accommodations.

[@susanannmclaughlin1634]

Felt very sad for them. Wish them good luck.

[@dcg590]

Why? The daughter has free university, they have food, free health care and a roof and money.

[@user-og2bm6hl4l]

​@dcg590 That's all free to Ukrainians, not the Irish.

[@veronicajimenez2716]

And that’s because she has a daughter. If you have no children they don’t even book a hotel room for you, they expect you to live in the streets

[@kittenclawsguitarvideos6147]

it appears to be getting worse for people globally and imagine, the richest one percent could change everything.

[@alisonlaing5626]

SO GLAD these two finally found somewhere. sounds an utter nightmare.

[@burpiii]

My hometown is a beautiful island called Bali. Since the 90s there has been many foreign investors who bought lands and villas/houses. For the lands, they'll build their businesses. For the villas/houses, they'll rent it or sell for much higher prices. Locals doesn't have much chances, especially the young generations and start-up companies. This island is so small that there are no lands left.

[@ursalanova1481]

I'm so sorry to hear that about Bali. That is a total shame.

[@pattersonellen]

This is also happening in Mexico. Even the USA has foreign corporations buying up propeties to rent at high prices. I thought Trump said he would fix this. He had 4 years. Most likely lined the pockets of his rich banker friends.

[@georgewagner7787]

Your government should have outlawed it.

[@seancotter4610]

I feel very sorry for them. At least they found somewhere. As an Irish citizen I have watched on as this crisis deepened. I’m fortunate to have been able to buy with my husband in the past year, but I see the majority of our friends of a similar age try and cope with ever increasing rents. They, like a lot of citizens in their 20s and early 30s have little hope of ever being able to save a deposit and get a mortgage. Hard working people unable to find somewhere to call their own, to call home. It’s a ticking time bomb and the government seem unable, or worse, unwilling, to address it.

[@bettyarmontrout724]

I live in Cincinnati Ohio USA and my family has lived in a hotel now for eight years and have lost all of our storage belongings; our past lives. We have to pay our rent out of our own pockets with no housing help. It sucks on so many levels!!!!!!😬😬😬😭😭😭

[@becmoran9119]

This was my life for 6 months with 3 kids. Eventually I was able to rent a house for 680 Australian dollars per week privately, we had very very basic groceries but it was glorious .

[@anthonydowling3356]

A week ? Thats a lot .

[@MillieonaVespa]

Things in 2022 are even worst for Homeless people, Ireland has taken in 41,000 refugees in the first 7 months of 2022 ….we have a shortage of accommodation for our own citizens, and Students, etc …. You wait 24 hours in A&E , waiting lists for schools …the fact is in our small country this cannot be sustained …..

[@SleepMeditationandAffirmations]

What a mess. This will be Toronto (Canada) soon because of Foreign Investors keep buying Condos and leaving them empty, which is jacking up rent. It's already damn near impossible to find a place, as they are taken before you finishing filling out the forms. 1 bedroom downtown Toronto starts at 2100$+ less than 600sqft.

[@jbags84]

Same on the west coast. Vancouver is insane. My husband's friend who works as a driving instructor just started renting a $3000/month home in the suburbs. He doesn't make that much money, so depends on his kids to help. It's a sad situation, no one can save a penny and they have student loans. The government needs to intervene to keep these foreign (Chinese) investors out of commercial and residential real estate.

[@lvi8957]

Same story here in Amsterdam

[@stefanthorndahl1666]

nuts! you should have laws severely restricting foreign investors to protect your country's citizens. Housing is much too important to leave to so called "free trade", it's a basic necessity for all, just as water and electricity are, and as such, it should be kept at affordable rates. An over-financialisation of housing is not healthy for an economy as at the end of the day, it's pure speculation.

[@jenniferozyer4115]

Glad I dont live in t.o. anymore. 1981 I had 2bd. Apt $305 a month! Live in amherstburg today...no rental is 2,100 a month unless it's a huge house.

[@Ciaradexy]

Canadian vulture funds are buying up Irish properties and evicting irish people.

[@crogg8889]

I’m Irish and this is heartbreaking. We are always told about homelessness in America and how we should help but not in our own country. So sad, we always see foundations trying to raise funds yet barely anyone donates because we believe that very little need help yet our best friend from two years ago could be starving to death infront of us yet he acts like everything’s fine.

[@trishoconnor2169]

The term "homeless" means something far, far harsher in the United States than the situation you consider "heartbreaking." In the US, these people would not be considered homeless. They are living in a hotel right now, with a storage facility for their belongings. America's homeless are living on the street, with perhaps a shopping cart full of everything they own. If they are lucky, some nights they may be able to get a bed (not their own room, but one of many beds crammed into a big room) at a shelter, but come morning it's back out on the street, and on a night when they don't get a bed, they sleep on the street, too.

[@anthonydowling3356]

@@trishoconnor2169 Correct .There is a YT Channel called >invisible people < which documents such cases .

[@lisalee2885]

@@trishoconnor2169 I'm in California and just started researching other countries and their homeless and solutions

[@rafangille]

@@trishoconnor2169 these people are known as homeless, they’re known as “the hidden homeless” here.

[@beatrixkiddo4693]

Everyone should be entitled to a roof over their head & food in their belly. So so scary this world we live in :(

[@dada-nd4eg]

No one is entitled to anything and the cause of all unhappiness is the need for entitlement.

[@beatrixkiddo4693]

dada what I really mean is, everyone in this world should not be going out with basic needs. A roof & food. That's not entitlement but just basic humanity needs.

[@Jade-jg8hc]

If you have worked, and contributed to society, then you are entitled to a decent home and food.

[@beatrixkiddo4693]

liar fighter i agree

[@beatrixkiddo4693]

JD Powell when did I ever say the word 'for free'....

[@EvanMurphyCapstone]

Lovely people... hate the negative comments, you know no one else story! I am highly educated, did good credit, home , education.... middle daughter had leukemia... lost all the trappings went from 7580to 508 credit score, lost home, took grocery help... any help... spent savings.... don't care, kept kid... managed to get new place... will spend rest of life paying the 20% of uncovered ( we had great insurance) of 1.6 million treatment cost ( refused to declare bankruptcy, our kid) old cars, old turn... making it by grace of God... but used food stamps... felt the shame ...be kind people... its easy to become " them"

[@rebeccaroper1042]

What an amazing mother, hope they find a home soon.

[@Poecat87]

Im glad they got a home. My heart was broken when it said they didn't get the flat until that last message and it warmed me up.

[@sonohrina2012]

I lived in Mexico as a kid 10 years ago but there just about everyone owned their home and the only people who rented where pretty much just passing by when I moved to the US I found it a bit odd how common it was for people to rent. I own a home now but because it was inherited. It’s almost unbearable how in California every is renting and often times end up in the exact same situation as this.

[@BigOMag]

I love how this woman keeps smiling considering the circumstances she got into. I am sure she will end up finding a nice place to live.

[@johndory5440]

A motel is better than on the street or in a car like some others...

[@opheliabawles9646]

I was refused emergency accommodation in Norway because l wanted to keep my dog, so we two had to freeze in the woods in a tent for almost a year, desperately envious of guys like these. However, they are actually living far from comfortably, and being in such an uncertain situation is a huge stress. I certainly don't envy people in their situation now l have a house.

[@sandysimpson4785]

Exactly!!

[@ksize3147]

Yes it is, but there still is the stress of not knowing if you will have a motel to sleep in the next night or next week. Here in America, there is a huge homeless problem. Some sleep on the streets, under bridges, in tents, in vehicles, in storage sheds, in abandoned buildings and houses. Then there are all these foreclosed homes rotting and empty. However, if you are an illegal alien you are moved to the front line for housing, food, medical.....Really doesn't make common sense dies it......or moral sense. They make laws making it illegal to feed the homeless on the streets but millions spent to feed illegal aliens every year. Why is that, you say?.......I would like to know too. Why is that?

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

@@ksize3147 Whoops!...I meant to post that to "stacey ol"!😁 Coz I actually Agree with Everything you stated in your comment!!😉

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

@stacey ol Sorry! I guess that I am SO fighting Mad that I guess I'm not reading comments correctly! I just re-read your comment and yes, totally get and agree with what you said! It's just Un-Forgivable that our government would turn such deaf ears and blind eyes to the desperate homeless situation.........

[@WillesdenHerald]

Best wishes to Nuala and Laura, they deserve a break, and are wonderful in this video.

[@janeprepper177]

In America we call it Section 8. I was on the waiting list 4 and a half years. I finally have an apartment. I'm so grateful.

[@redcapsue]

If they were in America, they're be sleeping in a bush. Very sad but thankfully she's safe.

[@margaretmcgarry7796]

It’s worse now as we have a bigger immigration crises than this at 3 years ago

[@user-ww1yg1fq5r]

Irish out third world in.

[@mavywavy801]

This is happening in Hawaii as well, every day i see homeless tents on the beach or in Waikiki all because of high rents, lack of jobs and shitty drug programs. Heck, nearly been homeless myself growing up a few times, so i feel for these two girls but in the end i am glad that they are safe.

[@crimsonsatira]

I really feel for them. Hope things work out for them and others who are in this position.

[@cadsuane]

I looked up the vacant dwelling data for Ireland's Census in 2016. It's 12.3% . That is extreme over-supply. 5% is normal. Most of the over-supply are likely higher density dwellings, like apartments. Ireland doesn't need to build more empties. They need to tax speculators whom deliberately leave dwellings empty for months on end. Homelessness could be mostly fixed within 3 months. Have a 10% pa tax on the estimated value of a property, if that property has been vacant for more than 6 months without good reason (metro areas only). 20% for over 12 months. Where ever property prices are rising faster than incomes, developers build more readily as there is more profits to be made. Thus leading to over-supply and speculation. Property prices are primarily driven by supply of money through very weak lending criteria. Long-term solution is to gradually tighten over years. Where there are excessive property prices, rental prices are also excessive.

[@azzamjaber7014]

Thanks a lot for this brilliant information..

[@azzamjaber7014]

We should keep this in mind when we go for elections..

[@JAMAICADOCK]

In a recession, governments should buy up cheap property. This will be good for people, and good for the banks

[@nepadron]

Lots of properties are set up just for vacation rentals, I wonder if that is also another issue in Ireland (Airbnb, etc)?

[@marchantnick]

Evil Ant - there was also some discussion of that a few years ago, but when they inspected the relevant properties they found that the majority were occupied. I gather that many people had listed the building as vacant in order to avoid property tax, but had still been renting them out

[@vegashainning8071]

You keep those spirits up ladies🙂...You deserve ,AND will have what you need and wish. Best Wishes from California to 2 amazing souls.....Never stop smiling 🤗

[@brightlite2640]

There’s lots of empty houses down the country. But everyone wants to live in Dublin. that’s the problem.

[@emjackson2289]

Indeed, whats worse is the "Enterprise corridor" basically contains all the £/€ between Belfast/Dundalk/Drogheda/Malahide/Swords/Dublin in a straight, very thin coastal strip. That means the West of Ireland doesn't get benefit of spending in the Six Counties e.g. Bundoran and Carrick don't get benefits due to a predjudical "West of the Bann" funding policy in Stormont. I dont think either people realise just how big Ireland is either (judging by some of the comments on here) - having done train from Heuston to Limerick and Ennish, its a proper journey. I can sort of see why people fly Dublin to Cork or Cork to Derry etc. etc. A nation with most of its big cities on the edges e.g. Cork, Roslare, Galway, Derry, Belfast, Greater Dublin i.e. Baile Ath Cliath, tends to have a lot of empty spaces in its middle - I mean there's no railway from Connolly to Navan . . . .so no wonder property in Dublin goes up and up in €/pcm. The Irish Midlands e.g. Mullingar, Longford are one of the biggest recipients of EU structual funding.

[@tianyinjia]

@O Yaz Gecesi No work outside Dublin

[@tianyinjia]

@O Yaz Gecesi I am sorry to hear that. At least Istanbul is beautiful!

[@rosewhite259]

Yes but is Dublin where all the decent jobs are?

[@rosewhite259]

Yes but is Dublin where all the decent jobs are?

[@hinahinananoha7783]

It's stressful, but just shows that developed countries try to take care of their people. She is not on the street.

[@DSherman50]

Anxiety provoking to be sure, most people know it could be them next, or once again. I'm glad they have each other, and finally, a place to call home.

[@letishamaughan7271]

Atleast Ireland help people. Unfortunately in England, a grown woman and her teenage daughter would be left to be on the streets or asking friends and family for help. They only re house people with young children for emergency accommodation and even when they do get the emergency accommodation, the hostels are vile and usually filled with drug addicts and ex cons. Nobody should be left to struggle like this.

[@jebbie2595]

*Sadly, my husband & I have been living in a motel for 2 yrs (since 12.09.2016). Initially, our daughter & son (now 19 & 18) were here too. We lost our home after our landlord died & the new owner didn't want to keep us there. We couldn't find anything else so we put everything in storage, save enough clothes, etc to last a month. But the cost of being here has it where we can't save $ to get into another place. The room is $380/wk, laundry mat $30/wk, eating out & sandwich stuff from store $80/wk, gas to get to work $50/wk, 1 cell phone $50/mo, car insurance $75/mo. That leaves 0 out of paycheck. It's an endless cycle you just can't get out of. My 2 kids finally moved in w/ friends. I hate being separated from them but I understand their embarrassment of living in a motel. It's so incredibly hard & depressing feeling like you'll never get out of a motel, having your family separated, never having a hot home cooked meal, constantly fighting w/ your spouse because of the stress of the situation... So hard.*

[@dfjulesful]

Another big issue is that the council housing list is on a first come first served basis rather than on a needs basis.

[@007mia7]

An ocean front hotel room? It could be waaaay worse. Always have gratitude for what you have. You are indoors, have food to eat, transportation & clothes to wear.

[@martinramanauskas6290]

she doesnt have her own home in her own country

[@islanddweller3674]

How.....pompous and self righteous of you., How you can say this when you have watched the film.

[@nicecutie]

its so sad to be homeless and lonely nobody deserves this.

[@whitefeather7529]

Such a strong lady! God bless them.

[@katelanstewart3362]

Me and my 4 children are in temporary accommodation we have been here for 4 months. We have no cooking facilities and no washing mashines. We have no grounds to play on. We are not aloud to play on the landing we are not aloud to make much noise. We have to hand the keys in before we leave to go to the shops etc. I feel like we are in a prison. We became homless as the landlord sold the house.

[@michelepiteo7179]

That may be in Dublin itself. Ireland is littered with empty houses because they over-built. Those houses are already built could be converted into flats.

[@islanddweller3674]

Folk need to live where they can work. Not out in the boonies.

[@soulstar5161]

There wouldn't be so many homeless if ireland's rediciolus planning permition laws were changed, so people could build their own homes like everywhere else in the world.

[@artealain]

FF/FG have allowed this to happen

[@maryann7941]

God bless them...so happy they finally found a home. ❤

[@SL-bo7ui]

Air B and B’s I think contribute to lack of supply everywhere!

[@bryanlint9327]

With the bad weather, I can't imagine having to live without a home.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Ireland 🇮🇪 today look after everyone unless ur Irish ☘️.

[@friscostreetstories5403]

This is terrible. You and your daughter are very strong.

[@devtank]

Glad you covered this Guardian. Pieces like this about us from big international entities is very helpful. Thank you.

[@evelyn7881]

This housing crisis is worldwide isn't it..

[@antheairenedevilliers1657]

Seriously, you should live in South Africa to get perspective on what real homelessness and suffering means. They live in a nice hotel overlooking the sea with all amenities laid on. They also drive a nice car and get all their meals. Better off than most of the world's population! Clearly this situation is not permanent as they have been told to keep waiting until the right place comes along. It might be inconvenient but it's not the tragedy the journalist is making it out to be!

[@bobsmith5441]

Completely agree. Their government really looks after them. It's actually pretty lovely.

[@Wendiliscious]

Absoloutely agree there are far worse situations in the world but I think to an extent it may be easier mentally and emotionally to be poor in a poor country than to be poor in a relatively well off country and especially in her case because she used to have so much more. Its far easier to have started off with nothing and live your whole life with nothing surrounded by people who have nothing than to have started off financially independent surrounded by others who are financially independent in a developed country and then have all that taken away from you whilst others around you may still be doing just fine as far as you can tell. Wish her all the best and I think she's handling it really well.

[@antheairenedevilliers1657]

@@Wendiliscious thank you for your insightful reply. Good to hear from you

[@sodaking6858]

Look we know Ireland's homeless problem is nowhere near as bad as others but for us this is our problem

[@dubFROGGY300]

She is one of the lucky ones but if you take a trip to Dublin you’ll really see how bad it is. Never seen a city with so many people sleeping on the streets(literally on the streets not in a hotel) our population is not ridiculously high so on a percentage rate of homelessness I would say it’s bad especially for a ‘developed’ country and the news will not show it as they’re sticking up for the government. I’m not saying we have extreme poverty like some countries but as far as developed countries go this is unacceptable

[@Kelly_t_love]

Food for thought . This happens all across the UK . Housing crisis is a health crisis. What now ?

[@FroggypondVideos]

I totally understand

[@northeuropeantaxpayer7097]

The Republic Of Ireland 🇮🇪 is not part of the UK,we left it 100 years ago thanks from Dublin

[@SuccessfulladiesSoftLife]

My landlord wanted more money for his crumbling house. After overpaying for some time I fell behind and he refused to cooperate with the Rent Relief program. He had the audacity of applying for rent relief after I moved, I was sent a email.

[@Skoda130]

Can't imagine how they felt after getting appointed a home six weeks later.

[@Jihane76]

She's a nice and brave woman !It's better for a woman to sleep in hotel than outside !

[@donfong6355]

what about a man?.

[@adriennebyrne8237]

I cried for this brave woman.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for sharing.

[@sinead6759]

Fair enough, everyone knows there's a housing shortage in Dublin, along with other issues, and even people working hard find it very difficult to rent or but now in 2019, But why do some people think they are entitled to a free 'council' house??

[@bid84]

Sinead keogan They don’t get it for free, they pay rent to the council.

[@Derekryan456]

@@bid84 its free . Where do you think they get the money from .

[@islanddweller3674]

@@Derekryan456 GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[@derekdempsey8506]

@@bid84 Dublin city council are owed 30 million in rent by these people

[@sunshine-bs2jx]

That'll be me soon . Cant afford rent and not qualify for anything. Work hard and no home still

[@bernadettekelly2772]

So sorry for your Troubles my friend ! Hope you a find a permanent home soon xx💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hello 👋 how’re you doing?

[@FroggypondVideos]

Food for thought this happens all across the USA, housing crisis is a health crisis. What now? Step up America its time to be better

[@Nazioarteko89]

The difference is that in Ireland there is free health care and these hotels are covered by the government. The bookings are literally done by the government. Not ideal but way different

[@marchantnick]

@@Nazioarteko89 Healthcare is not technically free in Ireland, it is subsidised for most of the public, but with free care for elderly people, neonates, cancer patients and people with disabilities or very low incomes. However, your other points are are true. The hotel accommodation for Laura and her daughter is paid entirely by the state, in order to prevent them living on the streets. Laura's rent for the new apartment will also be covered by the state, and she will also be receiving social welfare. Her daughter's university education is also free. It's all designed to support her basic needs until she can get a roof over her head, find a job and get back into the grind. We don't want people ending up on the streets, as it's a much longer and harder journey back to normality

[@Nazioarteko89]

@@marchantnick yes sorry. I meant it's free for this family (low income). I agree with the government funding this. I live in Ireland for 10 years and I am ok with taxes going to this. I just don't think the comparison is fair because this comment makes it sound like the situation is the same as America and America is simply way worse. Note I am married to a US citizen and have a green card

[@annmariebresnan2618]

I was onthe housing list for 12.5 years before i was offered something, i am totally greatfull for what i got.

[@Thailand-mt9op]

ann marie Bresnan wow, were you homeless for that long. I was homeless for 18 months, now I have the most gorgeous apartment from the council, I am so great full also💕

[@annmariebresnan2618]

Never homeless. Totally grateful when I got my apartment from the city housing list.

[@Thailand-mt9op]

ann marie Bresnan I am happy for you. Nothing like having a secure hom😀

[@annmariebresnan2618]

Total relief when I got my apartment. The rent was getting to high. When I got my place. Were you waiting long for your place.

[@Thailand-mt9op]

ann marie Bresnan I left a domestic violence situation. I was put in a hostel with 7 men, one bathroom (how crazy is that), I was shell shocked as I had lived in a beautiful home before. After 18 months, one of the guys threatened me, the council and police moved me, I know live in a beautiful top floor apartment over looking a church and the sea😄. I am so great full and very happy now🙏🏻

[@josephatnip2398]

I was living in a motel exactly one year ago today I ended up living there for a couple of months until I could finally talk my parents into letting me move in

[@isaccarvalho2652]

what a disgrace, feel sorry for the lady and for the other thousands.

[@theamhway]

It's fairly easier in India to live a comfortable life. My parents are educated, mom is a homemaker and dad works for a big company. Dad makes as much as an average person in the west and we live a life of luxury by Indian standards. I have all the things I need and more. My college is paid by my father. The only things that cost a lot of money are things imported from the US, eg iPhone, flagship laptops etc. Considering dad was very poor growing up, it's pretty good where we are and I'm incredibly proud of him. In my generation, things are worse. A family cannot really afford to have a stay at home dad/mum. Schooling, groceries, electricity are getting more and more expensive, while employment is very low, especially for professionals like engineers. I am a law student, and I am very worried about my future, and feel the pressure to do as well as my parents if not better. I can't imagine what it is like for someone from a poorer family.

[@moulim672]

Blessed to be an Indian, and once we recognise this blessing, we shall prosper and always be happy

[@bobsmith5441]

Leave Dublin. You're priced out. Go to leitrim, Roscommon, Longford.

[@lauradelaney5457]

Agreed. I hope she’s realised this

[@thunderwolf4237]

Homeless usually means no roof. They have room, car, GPS and all sorts of stuff. Come to Skid row in Cali.

[@KathyHagle]

No, homeless is being without a place you can call home. As I have been living in a hotel room like that here in America. I don't need to be dirty to be homeless, as I have no address to receive mail so technically I am homeless. So, some of the abilities you have I can not get due to not having an address of my own. Also, just because you are homeless does not mean you need to be a skid road bum.

[@misformargaret4028]

When I lived in Denver, I once met a woman ,who had on a fur coat and drove a Cadillac, staying in a shelter. She told me she went to a private school where there were horses. I'm guessing her family is/was loaded enough to send her to a private school with equestrian facilities and somewhere along the way, she became homeless. She was in her 60's. I don't know how long she'd been in the shelter. The fur coat and Cadillac were not in good shape.

[@yevonsama]

In some place, Homeless not even mean they are jobless.

[@patrickxoconnor]

In Europe we are civilised we don't benchmark ourselves off the social basket case that is the USA.

[@jesuschristoflatterdaysain1877]

It’s exactly the same in the country where I live too, the working poor are now homeless. It’s just going to get worse and worse, it’s so depressing and it’s all the governments fault. I don’t know where I’ll be living from one week to the next but luckily I am supported by my church and I will be ok.

[@incredulousone6855]

Same in Ottawa Canada. My son and I were in the same apt for 11.5 years. They evicted me for being late with rent for the 4th time in all those years. I always paid my rent but as a single parent struggling at times. The rental company just wanted me out to get that extra $650 more a mnth profit. We were quiet, clean tenants, zero damage. ended up living in friends' basement on sofa because couldnt afford 2 bed apt. Now living in a crazy rough area in a tiny old bachelor apt.

[@pattersonellen]

This is also happening in Mexico. Even the USA has foreign corporations buying up propeties to rent at high prices. I thought Trump said he would fix this. He had 4 years. Most likely lined the pockets of his rich banker friends.

[@tomswan3401]

if there are hotel rooms available, maybe the city council buys the hotel and transforms it into an appartment building.^^

[@atlantisboliviaorg]

If government pays rent to a private landlord, it enriches the already rich and keeps the poor impoverished in a situation they can never get out of. The problem is not a financial crisis, it is capitalism in a system where all the land is owned by a small number of people and there is no political will to build houses for people or solve the homeless problem, after all you never heard of an MP who was homeless.

[@0xstev3]

Since when are landlords all rich? and how does paying someone's rent impoverish them?? Do you have any statistics on land ownership distribution in Ireland? Why would an MP need to be homeless for them to care about solving homelessness?

[@Mommyduck600]

I have been in this situation multiple times, living in a hotel room or a tiny Airbnb. It's the reality of living in private rented housing.

[@kevplunkett1693]

Thank you very much for this. I live in Mountain View California in a region where there is so much homelessness amidst such wealth. It seems that this at least to some degree is the case in Dublin as well. One day at work I heard a woman say that we need to be fortunate that we have a roof over our heads. How can this be in the most wealthy of places in the world?

[@user-cy4vw1qj9m]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer in Ireland .

[@tonjamarshall4842]

I'm originally from San Francisco, and have spent over 13 years living in Dublin Ireland, both places were expensive; I wouldn't live in either, now;