The homeless woman in Limerick

[Mooshamoo]

Was anyone reading the news article about the homeless woman in Limerick. She is sleeping with her toddler son in a tent in Limerick city. I think it's getting a lot of coverage because she is a young woman with a toddler son.
I just felt so sad when I read it, it's so cold out there.

@lesdeluges

That was my first thought as well. Going to Garda station wouldn't work this time so tent it is.

A lot (not all) of homeless have complex needs, drug addiction, mental health issues, other issues. Giving them somewhere to live without the supports and active engagement will not succeed.

There was an incident a few years where a homeless mans rabbit was thrown in the Liffey. He jumped in after it had to rescued. He was given a place to live but he is back living on the streets again. He couldn't cope.

As I said there is a lot more information not been reported, something serious happened to have her barred from homeless services for a year.

If the child is not in the tent, it won't get the headlines.

Technically there is a bed for everyone and nobody has to sleep rough (over the winter!) except small numbers of recently arrived asylum seekers.

But in reality - the emergency bed system can be difficult to access and because of that and various other reasons people end up sleeping on the streets.

There isn't a bed for everyone. How are you saying that?

If there is a waiting list, and people can't get a bed, then there isn't a bed for everyone.

I was chatting to this Spanish woman in Dublin last week. I asked her what she thought about Ireland.

She said that she couldn't understand why there were such big pubs in Dublin that had three floors for people drinking, when there were so many homeless outside.

She made the point well!
She was saying that the huge buildings in Dublin were being used for drinking (not important) when some of them should have been used for housing (very important)

Oh GOD @Mooshamoo not again with the misinformation 🤦🏻‍♀️

Technically there should be a bed for everyone during the winter months as part of the cold weather initiative. These are Emergecy beds in hostels that are allocated mainly on a night by night basis. They are not ideal and they can be hard to access and some people don’t like them. I’m definitely not defending the system,

I’m not sure what waiting list you are referring to. There are waiting lists into more permanent homeless accommodations as well as long term housing.

He needs to be taken into care as there is clearly a lot of history here!!!
It is terrible to agree with this statement?

@EarringsandLipstick what is the misinformation? And don't just say there is misinformation and not say what you think the correct information is. If you want to correct me go ahead and do.

@mollyfolk i don't think there is a bed for everyone. There are not enough spaces. I talked to a homeless woman in Dublin and she said there are not enough places in the hostels near her . That they only take so many in

@CuteCillian he would definitely be better in care than in a tent.

Has anyone here been homeless. The scary thing is it can happen to absolutely anyone. As my boss said, we are all one paycheck from becoming homeless. Landlords can up rent/ or make people move out.

I was technically homeless for a couple of months in my twenties. I was in between jobs. And I had to live in emergency accommodation for those months. It was a scary time .

If I had to choose between my son sleeping in a tent in sub zero temperatures and him going into emergency care while I sorted my shit out, I would choose emergency care.

There's more to this story than any of us know... I mean what do you have to do to be barred from homeless accommodation for a year when you have a small child?

Something is off with this one...

Cynically agree

quoting this when I said cynically agree

Generally - on average - there should be. On a particular night that may not be the case. The extra beds also only run from November to March I think.

I haven’t but I’ve had friends impacted who had to go live in a family hub. it is horrific. Sadly if that happened to you now, you’d could be stuck in the homeless system years.

It's scary.

I was just sittinf here thinking Thank god I don't have to be in a tent tonight. And counting my blessings.
. I couldn't stick it.

Looking at her story, it's definitely made me more appreciative of what I have and to stop complaining. I have a roof over my head.

I was just outside standing waiting for a bus today and the weather was so bad ,I couldn't feel my hands.after a couple of minutes.

I hope the homeless people get a bed tonight.

Completely agree, there are moments when I hug my son tighter and am so grateful for what I have. A house, food, warm showers. Basic things we can take for granted that are such a gift to others, it's heartbreaking.

BUT, I know that in Ireland, there is no way I would have my 5 year old in a tent in sub zero temps. Absolutely no way would I allow that to happen. She had been staying with family and friends before this... have they all turned their backs on a 5 year old child in a tent in freezing cold weather overnight???

Something is not right with this situation, I don't know the details but this doesn't sit right, all isn't as it seems I fear

Definitely more to this story and she's certainly already been offered help, OP. She's holding out for the house she wants.

Ask yourself: what kind of mother insists on a three year old being in a tent when it could go to family or friends? I'm sure she knows someone living in a house! The whole thing is a massive publicity stunt. Pity the poor child. They should be taken off her.

Would Tusla not get involved regarding the child? I would have thought that would happen more or less immediately and the child taken into proper care. The woman is an adult and can technically do what she wants (within the law), but surely the child needs protection. I am saddened about the apparent neglect of the child and wonder why that is?