Understanding Homelessness

• Counted In (2005) identifies 485 dependents across 220 households as homeless. Of these dependents 463 were aged under 18years. 41% were aged between 0 and 5 years with 73% under 11 years of age. [2]
   
  
• The majority of homeless families (single and dual parent) were staying in B&B accommodation (78%). [3]
   
  
• Within all households with child dependents, the most commonly reported length of time homeless is more than 36 months (35%). [4]
   
  
• Much of this Private Emergency Accommodation (PEA) lacks facilities usual for family life and appropriate supports for people in vulnerable circumstances. There is often no structured planning for their move-on from PEA into more appropriate accommodation [5]
   
  
• Living in emergency accommodation can cause a number of difficulties for school going children including finding space to do homework and frequent change of address. There can also be barriers to maintaining friendships as there may not be facilities to invite friends in etc. [6]
   
  
• Families living in emergency accommodation have little time to be together except in cramped and overcrowded conditions. [7]
   
  
• O'Flynn and Chaloner argue that the evidence suggests that the welfare of children, as an operational principle, is not a primary consideration in all service planning or service delivery responses to crisis family homelessness where dependent children are in such vulnerable circumstances. [8]
   
  
• Hickey and Downey discovered a strong relationship existed between the extent and experience of food poverty and the type of accommodation a homeless respondent had both access to and use of. Significant difficulties were reported in relation to sourcing, funding, storing and preparing nourishing food. [9]
   
  
• A study by O'Brien et al found that 50% of the homeless children studied were at risk of contracting a number of infectious diseases because of incomplete or no immunisation and only 50% attended their 9 month check up. [10]
   
  
• Homeless Children
• Present more often with acute and chronic illness such as respiratory and gastro intestinal conditions, hearing problems and skin conditions.
• Often suffer accidental injuries and burns.
• Are more likely to use the A&E, GP and hospital services than their housed counterparts.
• Experience higher rates of development delay and behaviours and emotional problems then that of the housed population. This includes deficits in reading and language abilities, hyperactivity, aggression, depression and anxiety. [11]
 
• Despite the high levels of parental stress and difficulties experienced by homeless parents [12][13] O'Brien et al argue that among the parents in their study the parental bond was strong, and parents were anxious to fulfil their parenting role to the best of their ability. [14]
   
  
• In a 1998 study Cleary & Prizeman found that 20% of participants had become homeless by the age of 16 and 58% had become homeless by the age of 20. [15]
   
  
• A Focus Ireland study on young people leaving care in Ireland indicated that two years after leaving care 68% of those who had been in health board care and 33% of those who had been in special schools had experienced homelessness. [16] Figures from the UK suggest that up to 20% of care leavers experience homelessness within two years of leaving care. [17]