Jesse Wiesblatt
Acting Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Focus Ireland
John O’Haire
Head of Family Services, Focus Ireland
Homelessness is an undeniably traumatic experience and can have long-lasting effects on the wellbeing of children.
Figures from the Department of Housing show that over 4,400 children are currently without a home in Ireland, and the number of families with children accessing emergency accommodation is rising all the time.
Some of the main effects of homelessness on children
Homelessness has a profound impact on children’s health and developmental outcomes. Many children find living in emergency accommodation cramped and stressful. Additionally, children have to leave their friends, schools and extended families. Beyond stress and anxiety, homelessness is also linked to developmental delays in young children.
Although any duration of homelessness is harmful to children, the longer the experience, the more severe the consequences are. Unfortunately, nearly 900 families have now been in homelessness for more than a year, and over 400 of these families have been for more than two years.
What can be done to mitigate the trauma of homelessness on children?
Access to housing is the ultimate solution: our final goal is to help people get and keep a home and end homelessness in Ireland for good.
In addition, the Focus Ireland Family Centre, Family Homeless Action Team and other family services help children cope with the difficulties they face while living in emergency accommodation. Our trauma-informed approach supports children and their families throughout their journeys, offering tailored services based on their unique needs.
Our final goal is to help people
get and keep a home and end
homelessness in Ireland for good.
Trauma-informed care fosters safe attachment
The most important factor in reducing the negative impact of trauma on children is having a positive and secure attachment with at least one caring adult. Trauma-informed approaches, applied throughout the services we provide, can support parents and children develop and maintain a safe attachment. Implementing a trauma-informed approach also means that all our staff understand the impact of trauma, along with the survival strategies children and adults use to cope.
How can the public help end children’s homelessness?
We are ending homelessness for families every day, but the numbers still rise as more are losing their homes. However, our work shows that homelessness can be ended if the right actions are taken, and we need your support to do this by donating to our fundraising campaigns. We are asking people in Ireland to sleep out on 11 October for Shine A Light, to raise awareness and funds in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness. Christmas is also fast approaching, and that’s an important time to donate and help us provide children and their families a place to call home.
You can be part of the solution to homelessness. Visit focusireland.ie.
Focus Ireland was founded by Sr Stan in 1985 and since then has helped families and children move out of homelessness. In 2023 alone, it supported 486 families.
All figures and data presented in this article are sourced from the Department of Housing.
