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I HAD MY own home, I was a homeowner and I was quite happy. I had a job and a decent income. I was able to pay my mortgage when I was working, but unfortunately I lost my job in 2012. Prior to that I had a fairly comfortable life … but unfortunately when I lost my job things really, really took a turn for the worse.
Christina was married with a daughter. She had a law degree and a good job. Her life changed dramatically after she was made redundant. Her 11-year marriage broke up and the bank repossessed her house. Her eight-year-old daughter is now being cared for by someone else.
In an interview with Valerie Cox on Today with Seán O’Rourke, Christina said she has been looking for private rented accommodation for two years but can’t find anywhere she can afford because many landlords will not accept rent supplement.
She has a bed in Regina Coeli Hostel, but she cannot be there from 12-7.30pm every day. As a result she walks the streets of Dublin city for hours every day.
She is six-and-a-half months pregnant and fears her baby will also be taken into care if she can’t find accommodation. Children cannot stay in the hostel when she currently sleeps.
“Basically I roam the streets. I go out window shopping, I go to libraries … I’ve absolutely nowhere to go … I can’t be just annoying people or knocking on people’s doors.
Lately it’s really taken its toll on me. I suffer very, very badly with varicose veins, I was supposed to have them operated on, I’m supposed to be resting my legs. My bladder is really weak. I get days where I’m very, very week and I need to sit down for a few hours.
“I’m not going to be a layabout and sit around doing nothing all day … I’ve gotten to a stage where I’m actually frozen. I’m speechless because I know nobody is going to help because I’ve been to every organisation … there are no resources available.
“So, what am I supposed to do? I have to walk the streets every day while heavily pregnant because they can’t give me somewhere in a supported accommodation scheme,” Christina said, through tears.
She is receiving some support from Anew – an organisation that helps homeless pregnant women.
Not an isolated case
Deirdre Delaney, Christina’s social worker, said pregnant women becoming homeless is getting “more and more” common.
“We see many qualified women coming through here,” adding that many women are not in a position to receive support from their families.
Women who are pregnant and homeless are not entitled to hotel accommodation, you only become entitled to hotel accommodation as a family.
Delaney said Christina is “believe it or not … lucky”.
“For many pregnant women they’re in a one-night only hostel , which means that they have a different room every night if they’re lucky and they have to leave early every morning and walk the streets.”
Christina said the father of her baby is “not able” to give her any support.
Her ultimate goal is to find accommodation so she can keep her baby and be reunited with her daughter.
*Not her real name.
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This article is far too vague on details to be convincing. Is this woman an Irish national? Obviously a lot of money was spent on her education and she is well qualified, so why does her family turn their back on her now? Why was her child taken from her – who is looking after it? Why has she sunk to this level? She is not the first to be made redundant – very few with her qualifications would end up homeless. Is she a foreign national? I just don’t believe this story.
\if she is a ‘single’ person she should be able to get a house share.
Have a listen to this Mary. Skip though and it’s revealed that there is yet another emerging charity organisation helping out, exclusively for pregnant women that are homeless. ‘Christina’ is a Dublin woman seemingly, who went on the Sean O Rourke show with Valerie Cox to highlight her story and promote the charity.
https://soundcloud.com/rte-radio-1/todaysor-homeless-and-pregnant
I have a feeling that this ‘story’ is just that a story, fairy tale that is…..
Well you cannot buy that type of emotional advertising, unless you’re an established charity
Its hard to imagine anyone with a good education & good job can end up in such a dire situation, & on top of that, not having any family or good friends to put you up for a few months while you get back on your feet. It just goes to show this can happen to anyone!
Why can’t we force the fathers to pay for the care and upkeep of these children
It’s not too difficult to imagine when you think about the fact it has happened to thousands of people here over the past decade.What i find hard to imagine is that someone with a good education would go and get pregnant again and then go on national radio expecting an outpour of public sympathy
I know it might not be a simple fix but why doesn’t she move out of Dublin. Move to Leitrim the best value in rental and a very nice County also.
I have to agree with Shane why don’t they move from Dublin or where ever they are to a different area where the rent is less. If the family can’t help then why get pregnant again, stay in an area you can’t afford the rent. With your education there have to be jobs out there. I don’t know Leitrim at all but has to be better than walking the streets all day
upskill
We’re all a paycheque away. Surely, there must be some solution to this. Especially, for someone who has worked, paid a lot of tax in to the system, there should be a safety net for this kind of thing. Is it beyond our ability, or do we just have poor governance?
Maybe the father of her first child or her next child could help her out.
Doesn’t sound like it, and intentionally so. Think they were trying t close that angle of with “not able” quoted.
Begs the question though. Now we have another homeless charity, and this time for pregnant women?
Unless we have a unified approach to homelessness where everyone is equal, then so many individual charities can only frustrate matters imo.
Not able,not willing,not on the scene,in jail,dead, surely the article should clarify the situation.Maybe it’s time the hard questions were asked and a bit of personal responsibility brought to the situation.Getting pregnant while homeless isn’t fair on her unborn baby.
@ Michael : Maybe the father of her first child is looking after that child. The article doesn’t rule that out.
Quite possible,but surely instead of saying”being cared for by someone else” it would say being cared for by its father.If he is taking responsibility for the child at least give him some credit for that.
The whole article is quite vague and throws up a lot of unanswered questions, but, having said that, the crux of the matter is that this lady is pregnant and homeless, such a thing should not be happening in this so called ‘recovering’ economy. A dreadful situation to be in.
I would just like to broaden this a little.I know being homeless isn’t a choice,but surely getting pregnant could have been avoided.I have a lot of sympathy for the poor children born in to this situation,people need to be held accountable for their choices,mothers and fathers.Can’t blame everyone else,only the two people involved are responsible for the pregnancy.
But is she presenting herself as homeless in order to get a house though ?
If it wasn’t an advantage to be either pregnant or a single mother to get a council house,maybe people would stop being so irresponsible when it comes to birth control.Can you imagine the pressure that would be taken off housing,health welfare etc.The state can’t stop people having children they can’t support but put your future children’s welfare first,
@Suzie Sunshine, not sure if it would make any difference, the housing lists are as long as a mile, and then some. Pre recession maybe but not now.
These articles always raise more questions than they answer because the agencies are not allowed give their side of the story as it would mean commenting on individual cases.
Given the version above, this sounds terrible, but when the public outcry reaches fever pitch there is always more to it. Like the guy that died homeless but refused a house the week before. Or the other homeless guy with buckets of money in the bank. Or the family that got kicked out of their house but had rental properties. Or the one that refused several houses and kept her kids in the car for a few nights to load up public opinion.
Not saying there aren’t sad cases out there – just would like the agencies involved to comment on each case brought public also
Why can her partner not help?????
It should say why in the interests of transparency. Otherwise it’s not the full picture. Is he financially responsible for her her though, pregnant or not?
She may not have one
Instead of consent classes in Uni’s why not family planning and personal responsibility with economics included
….. and how much did we piss away on IW again?
By the people, for the people indeed.
This is what I’m seeing on twitter now. People who didn’t campaign for homelessness at all, on the news of Irish Water, shouting ‘WHAT ABOUT HOMELESSNESS? WHY ISN’T THIS FRONT PAGE?’
Had they done their research to see the de-funding of water funds, and the pumping of over a BILLION into IW, they might change there tune.
Had they of been to a march they would of seen a range of topics being discussed on stage, all in relation to austerity and how it effects the country.
*affects
One of many in the same place, now we will get to posters well get a job, where is her husband has she no family, well not everyone makes it in life all the time, some help is needed at some stage, nobody wants to be like that, not even the so called spongers,
I agree with you Mick but unfortunately there are too many people in this country whos first port of call when they get into difficulties is not ‘what can I do to fix this’, ‘can my family or friends help me out until I get back on my feet’ its ‘what can I get off the government for free’ or ‘someone else should help me out’.
Everyone has problems, people deal with them in different ways. Only the weakest and vunerable in society should be helped out, not just anyone who wants a quick and easy fix
Would you prefer we reopened the Magdalene Laundries Beano?
No ones asking for that James. Just wish people took more responsibility for their actions. This may come as a shock to you but you know what.sometimes, its not always someone elses fault.
Sorry don’t agree, this can happen to anyone, even the strongest of people, sometimes life just dumps on you for a while and there never seem or you can’t see a way out,
Precisely Mick
well said Mick
I can sliiightly see where Beano is coming from but not entirely. The fact that she has a law degree and had a husband and was able to buy a house at one stage removes her entirely from the typical ‘handout’ types you’re talking about.
If you were fired and had spent your savings on a house you no longer have, would you claim the dole?
While that’s true in some cases Mick , in this case though I don’t believe that there is no family member at all that she can stay with , no family or friends would see a pregnant woman on the streets like she’s claiming .
Beano , totally agree with you !
You see Kelly, I make the point here a lot and that is – we have a blanket system here that has been abused for decades, we have people with a sense of entitlement who think “I have a baby” now give me the house of my choice, in the area of my choice and give it to me now.
When we accede as we have always done to these demands from healthy people who can work, who can move a little further out and who can do more for themselves, then when people like this lady present, then they are the losers – because it is always those in genuine need that suffer most.
Suzie, in this instance I think this woman’s situation is a genuine case.
We hear the single mothers day after day, who never worked and were on the housing list even before they had kids – and while waiting they had more kids.
This is someone who worked hard, bought a home and through misfortune ended up on the street, her 8 year old is being cared for and this is why I admire her – she is not dragging the child with her.
These are the people who should be helped and with a little help could get a job and improve their situation.
Patlyndo , you may be right but I always have doubts when i hear that there is no family or friends there for her . that’s the part I find hard to believe
Me too Suzie, but I do think that on what has been put here, that this is a woman who is really down on her luck and it could be that she is ashamed of her situation and too ashamed to seek support. There’s a psychological aspect of this as well. What I do see is that she has made provisions for her 8 year old, that child is not on the street or in a hostel and I admire that.
You’re dead right Patlyndo. The way I see it, I’d never begrudge genuine candidates to essentially claim back what they put in to PRSI when they need it. I had to do it myself for a few months and even then the people in the welfare office treat you like you’re one of the tracksuit types
I agree Kelly. We pay a lot into tax when we’re working, that should be available to us when we are out of work. Sometimes moving on costs more than mere survival.
Did she get pregnant after she was made redundant or homeless? Would be interesting to know
She is into BDSM and likes the smell of vanilla.
What the heck, Beano, why is that interesting? You are just looking for information that you can then use to say, well, that’s her own fault, now, isn’t it?
Why Beano?
There’s a businessman thats been hailed as a hero here on the Journal, several times, yet this boyo FIRES all the women that get pregnant. He hides behind endless monthly contracts and generally hires only foreign nationals who dont know their rights.
Is having a child now the preserve of the well-to-do’s now?
Planning on forced sterilisations next?
This is why we have a social system: To protect the vulnerable. And a homeless pregnant women, for what ever reason, is about as vulnerable as one gets.
Many moons ago, a politicians son, or a rich businessman could impregnate a poor young girl, and so off to a Laundry with her.
Did we not, as a country, move past this backwards mindset that you still seem to have occupying your brain???
sad situation to be in – can i just ask is she irish or a foreign national ? i cant see how someone who was doing quite well previously now finds herself with no family or support here so thats why im wondering if she is from outside of ireland and may not have family here
Her family could well have all passed on, or she could be estranged from them, it does not state anywhere.
She needs help and now
How can we help her? Serious question.
wow this awful – but why does it feel like something in this story doesn’t quite add up?This can not be the best offer for a single mum with another on the way
Joan has a lot to answer for! Minister for social protection…my arse!…if she has an ounce of dignity She should resign and build a homeless shelter with her pension money
Eh?
Did Joan make her redundant?
Did Joan make her homeless?
Was Joan the cause her marriage breaking up?
Is it Joans fault none of her family or friends are helping her out?
Yeah, this woman’s plight is all Joan’s fault….yer spot on.
Oh, I am trying to figure out how Joan got her pregnant but, never mind the details, I know Joan did it. Maybe with her iPhone.
Beano have a look at what that tramp Joan did to the people who needed most…Another right wing vulture
Not Joan Martina, the people who have abused the system did this.
For all you right wing vultures out there…Listen up not everyone who gets social welfare is a sponger or a non contributor.
This woman deserves accomodation,help and money to help her, not the thousands of refugees or people that never did any type of work…
Jesus the amount of right wing red thumbing whats in it for me vermin around here is sickening
i am genuinely shocked too. Ye won’t have the right to abortions in this country, ye won’t prosecute the bankers, the builders the developers, all the cute hoors who shafted us all, ye won’t hold the government to account when it pisses away all our children’s futures,ye won’t prosecute the kiddy fiddlin priests ah but ye will slag off a homeless pregnant woman. Ah now, tell me that lovely story again about how we won our independence.
sad situation for anyone to be in, let alone a pregnant woman.
Getting her self pregnant whilst homeless was not the most intelligent thing she could have done.
the father is ‘not in a position to help’…… so we should pay ???? Maybe it would have thought of this before she got pregnant
Well you’re paying Enda to go on holiday to the United States for Paddy’s day aren’t ya!! And you’d begrudge helping a homeless pregnant woman!!! That’s the kind of mentality that has this country in the mess it’s in! Where is your compassion? This is a human being we’re talking about…who knows why/how she ended up in the devastating position she’s in..fact is…she’s in that position and with little help!
Disgusted with some of the comments on here.
@ Peter Buchanan
No mention of why or when this became the cae but it it is enough for you to cast of the care of a pregnant woman in Irish society. Classy.
Peter lets see if it happened to you losing eveything and we would all see you screaming..You are the type of person society does not need…Another Pig eating out of the trough
Reading the comments on this story, I’m glad I left Ireland. So many heartless, cynical comments. So many people who’s impulse it is to pick holes in a tragic story. I won’t be rushing back.
Yep 30 comments really represents the entire country. Good logic shane!
The people who spend all day commenting on the Journal are not representative of the rest of the country, thankfully…
I don’t want to be unsympathetic to this lady but the article has made a point of pointing out that she is well educated etc,yet here she is 6 months pregnant,homeless and no sign of the new babies father.Anyone can fall on hard times,but if people used a bit of cop on and stopped making there situation worse by adding in an innocent,presumably unplanned child maybe we would be able to give them more assistance,
It’s shocking that in 2016, a pregnant lady has to walk the streets, saying she is lucky to have a bed for the night is insulting. Could you imagine walking around for hours every day knowing the next day will be the same for you. It’s dire that is the situation for many who have no place to call home. A bit of compassion and kindness isn’t much to ask for.
Father not able to give any support? What about “other” father? Even if my marriage split I cannot imagine leaving woman on her own if she was in situation like this, never mind if we had a child… This is just sad situation. Is there way to help her?
Yeah….. “why can’t [someone else] help!!”
The attitude that will no doubt save us all if we’re ever unlucky enough to find ourselves in a tight spot.
Amazing how this poor girl has not one member of family , no siblings , not parents , no cousins , aunts , uncles , not a single friend who she can stay with or at least stay with during the daytime . it must be terrible that she has to walk around all day . is the girl not getting SW allowance and children “s allowance ? Where’s that money going ?
Law degree+ homeless = bullshit.
Well there are too little facts, ie. if she’s foreign then law degree may not mean much in Ireland where is different law…then she may as well suffer some kind of mental illness for example depression… I agree it’s weird situation and maybe not very common but quite possible. She needs help that’s for sure.
I would take you in give you a room and one for your daughter if you can’t get somewhere proper to live. I’m not a landlord just live with my wife and daughter in finglas. it’s not right what’s happening to you
A lot of ppl are paying Enda to go on holiday to the United States for Paddy’s day!! And you’d begrudge helping a homeless pregnant woman!!! That’s the kind of mentality that has this country in the mess it’s in! Where is the compassion? This is a human being we’re talking about…who knows why/how she ended up in the devastating position she’s in..fact is…she’s in that position and with little help!
Disgusted with some of the comments on here.
Sad place to be in you would really see a foreigner homeless..
I actually heard a bit of this woman’s interview today, but did not hear the back story, ie the Law Degree, previous marriage etc etc. With all due respect, she did not sound very educated, she was being very vague & there were a lot of important un-answered questions. Tbh, when I first tuned in I thought she was one of the people being evicted this week from Mountjoy Sq. coz it was the usual
“I wanna house, they won’t give me a house”, interview mantra we sadly hear every day now. But…..WHERE is all this Holy Grail of housing gonna come from? There are NO houses to be got, and no plans to start building houses any time soon, either.
Last I looked there were loads of ex-Celtic Tiger ghost estates left rotting but still more than half finished and salvable up and down the country and We The People supposedly ”owned” the largest property entity in the world ie NAMA well it was setup in our name and our money used by it to buy up vast tracts of property. And yet we have 5000 people homeless in this so-called State tonight with the freezing rain and the gales and thousands of them kids. I think there’s quite a lot that could be done given all the above Anne Kelly. Just that it’s not being done is all.
why did she get pregnant in the first place these people think the state owes them, how dare they that’s what has the country the way it is people like her
The legacy of ff labour and fg ladies and gents
Kind of insensitive KBC ad at the bottom of this article, of a couple dancing in their sitting room. Terrible situation for this lady, truly hope she finds some help
Where are the family ,mother sister brother friend surely to God someone can help in some way while pregnant at least ….
Not to judge the father but can’t imagine any sort of a man letting a woman carrying his child walk the streets if he knew about it at all. God help her because it seems in the 21st Century our grand old Republic still can’t make the grade in the cherishing all the kids of the nation equally
we had tens of thousands of houses to many built around Dublin during the Tiger, mass emegration also, so where did those sneeky little houses go ,,,,? would our new “BOOM” have somthing to do with it , mass migration from other European countries filling them ,,,,,possibly ,, putting ourselves in problems again ,,,,likely ,, WE NEED A NEW STYLE OF DEALING WITH OUR PROBLEMS ,,,,,,, government as it is has failed ,seems to only create problems and never solutions
Keeping her legs shut while unable to support the first child would have been a good start towards responsible behaviour?
So people can’t have sex if they are not in a good position financially? Get back will you!
I thought That The Labour Party were very interested in Womens rights. We heard lots of talk about their rights before the election by Ivana Bacik a Maybe Bacik and her rich friends could help there miss fortunate sister out. Remember action speaks louder than words.
Can you not John, sorry I know plenty.
I used the word ‘man’ there in several senses not just the chromosomes some may carry though their actions or non-actions betray them as unworthy of being called men Patlyndo. There may be many valid reasons for not wanting to be with a woman (and vice versa) but there are none for not wanting to protect one’s child.
So sad there should be some sort of decent accomadation set up for these poor women.
This article is misleading because just last year I was in the exact same position as this girl. I was in the Regina Coeli too throughout my whole pregnancy and they were brilliant.. I was allowed to stay throughout the day to rest, as was another pregnant girl. And was also offered one of the units that allowed children. I didn’t accept their offer as I wanted my partner with me and they don’t allow men but they do 100% allow children.
thanks be to god for abortion!
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