Aisling (36) is homeless with her three children – aged eight, six and three – for a second time. The house she had been living in seven years ago with her then one-year-old daughter was sold. “I remember the first time going up in the lift [at homeless accommodation] and breaking down and sobbing. I was terrified.”Two years later she was successful in renting a house. “We were there three weeks when there was a knock at the door. It was the bailiffs. The landlord had lost the house. The receiver very kindly let us stay while the [repossession] process went on, which took about three years.”Though Dublin City Council was due to buy the home through the tenant-in-situ scheme, “the sale fell through” and the family became homeless again. Though the family is now in supported homeless accommodation provided by the Depaul charity, Aisling describes as “horrific” their journey through three other placements over the past two years. “We had just a bedroom, no cooking facilities. In one of the places kids weren’t allowed have toys because they were a ‘fire hazard’, I was told. “There was no storage so all our stuff was in black bags under the bed.“We weren’t allowed visitors, so no one could come and give me a hand. Even for appointments, I had to drop them somewhere because no one was allowed come and mind them. “We were put in one place in Kildare. My kids go to school in [Dublin city centre]. I had to travel the whole way in. They actually got medals in school for having the best attendance, didn’t miss any days. It was hard but everything else had been taken away from them so I wanted school to be the one constant thing. They needed some stability. “It was really tough. I ended up in Connolly Hospital psychiatric ward because of my mental health. I couldn’t believe we were homeless again – the impact on my kids. Even my eldest, she’s eight – she has had only four years in a house.”She was allocated the Depaul supported accommodation, specifically for families, in the north inner city following advocacy by a mental health social worker. “I have two bedrooms and a kitchen so I can actually cook for the kids. There is huge support here as well. I have a key worker, and Depaul do days out with the kids, activities with the adults. “And I can have visitors, so I can get a break, even to go for a walk.”Depaul, which publishes its annual impact report on Tuesday, said “the scale of the ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis placed unprecedented pressure” on its frontline services last year.Though it had what it described as “record-breaking results” in supporting people out of its homelessness, the “family homelessness crisis escalated rapidly. “The increasing demand for family and mental health support underscores the urgent need for early intervention and stronger prevention efforts to protect vulnerable families and individuals.”The charity saw a 93 per cent increase in mental health concerns among its service users, with 1,361 needing support.“Depaul supported 1,456 families in 2025, up 28 per cent from 1,138 in 2024, and supported 2,574 children across its residential and support services. Five babies were born to mothers living in Depaul’s emergency services during 2025, which illustrates the harsh reality of infants beginning their lives in temporary hostel accommodation.”Chief executive David Carroll called for earlier interventions in helping people avoid entering homelessness.Speaking on RTÉ Radio on Tuesday, he said this would mean working with people within communities before they entered temporary accommodation. “We can find the signals of deteriorating tendencies on the back of maybe rental issues, antisocial behaviour, drug and alcohol difficulties and supporting people within community settings is really important. Aisling is hopeful of finding long-term housing “before Christmas”. A housing association has offered her a home to rent. She has to satisfy a number of standard checks before finding out whether she can take the offer. Asked whether she thinks people in Government understand the impact of homelessness on families, she says: “I don’t think anyone gets it, except people who have been through it. The trauma, for the kids especially, it is huge. “I wish there were more places like these Depaul apartments for homeless families. The difference it has made has been phenomenal.”[ Homelessness overtakes addiction as main issue for Ana Liffey service usersOpens in new window ]