The issue of homelessness has reached a heartbreaking level, as illustrated by the story of Annmarie Duffy, a mother of three who has been stuck on Dublin's housing list for an astonishing 19 years. She candidly shared her struggles, stating, "I feel like I don’t own my own life."
Currently, Annmarie resides in a state-funded bed and breakfast in West Dublin, where she lives with her husband and three children. They moved into this temporary accommodation in April 2024, and it has become their home. With children aged 19, 18, and 10, the family is crammed into a single room furnished with two bunk beds and a double bed.
Describing their living situation, Annmarie expressed, "It feels like being in prison, and the council owns me." The lack of privacy is a significant concern, as she and her husband share the double bed while their three children sleep in the bunk beds, all within the confines of one small room. She continued, "There are five of us in this B&B, and I’m only allowed to stay out three nights a month. If I wanted to go on vacation, I could only stay away for two weeks, but our financial situation makes that nearly impossible."
In a particularly challenging moment, Annmarie recounted how even during her hospital stays, she was required to provide documentation to the council confirming her absence to secure their place in the B&B.
Adding to her woes, Annmarie claimed that she hasn't seen her assigned council key worker for almost two years. "I met her when I initially moved here, but since then, there has been no contact," she noted. When she recently brought this to the attention of council representatives during a meeting, they appeared surprised to learn of her lack of communication with her key worker. Annmarie also mentioned that she is not receiving support from homeless charities, leaving her feeling isolated and unsupported.
Geographical factors seem to contribute to her sense of neglect. Living on the outskirts of Dublin has led Annmarie to believe her family has been overlooked by local authorities. "It feels like we are forgotten out here," she lamented. Initially, six families resided in the B&B, but following an extension, that number has increased to eleven, further straining resources.
Transportation adds another layer of complexity to their situation. Annmarie’s youngest attends school in the city center, necessitating a daily commute from Castleknock. "That journey takes over an hour by bus, meaning we have to rise by 6 AM and leave by 6:45 AM. If traffic is bad on the motorway, we risk being late for school. Often, I find myself lingering in town or heading to my mother's house instead of returning to the B&B," she explained.
Annmarie dreams of returning to the city where she grew up, but feels she is making no progress. Her two eldest children are in college, and she worries about the embarrassment they face due to their living conditions. "We have no privacy here, and since most of the other families are not Irish, I feel very alone in this environment. They have their own languages and cultures, which makes me feel even more isolated. I worry my family is falling apart."
Compounding these challenges, Annmarie highlighted issues with the B&B’s facilities. For three months, they experienced a lack of running water and at one point had to share a single cooker among seven families because another unit was broken. "Everyone prepares their own meals, and if you’re not there to claim your spot on the cooker, you have to wait your turn," she explained.
Despite her husband working 20 hours a week and Annmarie receiving €61 weekly from the Family Income Supplement (FIS), financial support remains inadequate. With her older children receiving grants for college, Annmarie finds herself trapped in a system that seems to penalize them for working. "I’m at a loss as to why we haven’t been assigned housing. It feels like we’re constantly being pushed down despite our efforts."
After nearly two decades on the housing list, she expressed frustration at the lack of progress. "My position on the list fluctuates; sometimes I’m ranked 62, then 63, then back to 61, with no clear explanation for these changes. The council claims to send updates, but I’ve never received any letters. I really don’t understand how anyone can live like this or how a government could allow such suffering to continue."
In response to this distressing situation, Dublin City Council was approached for comment.
