‘It was crazy’: Family left homeless after tenancy fell through

For Aisling Dekker, a failed Housing Assistance Payment tenancy meant driving her children two hours to school each morning from emergency accommodation far outside Dublin. The family shared one room and one bed, with no kitchen facilities.

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It was crazy. Just crazy.

“It was crazy,” she said. “Just crazy.” The children still received gold stars at the end of the school year for not missing a day, despite the disruption caused by homelessness.

The family moved later to accommodation with a small kitchenette, but remained far from the school. A social worker helping them eventually arranged a move to Depaul’s Rendu apartments for women and children in Dublin city. They now have their own apartment, cooking facilities and wraparound support. When the children returned that day, the youngest called it “home sweet home”.

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They bounce back like, but obviously they’ve had their moments through it and they’ve had sad days. But look, they know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Like even being here, it’s more structure for them.

Dekker said homelessness had a “huge impact” on her children, although she praised their resilience. “They bounce back like, but obviously they’ve had their moments through it and they’ve had sad days. But look, they know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Like even being here, it’s more structure for them,” she said.

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home sweet home

Nine families are currently waiting for places at Rendu apartments, and Depaul says referrals continue without slowing. In its 2025 Impact Report, the charity called for greater investment in homelessness prevention, permanent housing, and mental health and addiction services. It has urged the Government to include more social and affordable housing and prevention funding in Budget 2027.

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I just hope we never have to go through this again. And I hope that any family that is struggling and going through it, that they can get through it and they get the help that they need.