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How I help children deal with the hardship of homelessness

It’s estimated that 1 in 3 people experiencing homelessness is a child.

Focus6 Focus Ireland Focus Ireland

My car is full of toys, glitter, arts and crafts equipment. People could think I’m in and out of children’s birthday parties. But instead of parties, my job is to try to help children deal with the hardship of homelessness and all the confusion that comes with it.

Sometimes I give a piece of me and tell them things that went wrong for me when I was a child. By giving them a bit of my story I get their attention and they treat me as someone they can trust and who is finally going to understand them. They open up.

We play and through stories and drawings I get them to talk about the memories and thoughts they shouldn’t deal with alone. Creating stories and drawings, we can talk through their issues and their anger.

One of the techniques I use is the ‘wooden boat to a far away land’. We put their problems on a wooden boat and send them far, far away, so they never have to return. They can then focus on the much brighter future ahead.

This post was highlighted by @focusireland.

FocusData4 Department of Housing Department of Housing

Recent figures show a record total of more than 8,492 people homeless in Ireland. Nationally there are now 5,298 adults and 3,194 children homeless meaning more than 1 in 3 people experiencing homelessness is a child. The total number of people homeless rose by 24% from October 2016 to October 2017. The number of children has risen by 29% in the same period from a total of 2,348 children in October 2016. Let’s change the face of homelessness together with Focus Ireland person by person, child by child, family by family. Donate here.

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    Mute Chris Curran
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    Jan 6th 2023, 11:51 PM

    Hand yourself in. Take responsibility for your actions. Poor lady, hoping she fully recovers.

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    Mute Kevin Norris
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    Jan 7th 2023, 10:06 AM

    This is so sad. RIP gentle lady

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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Jan 7th 2023, 2:19 AM

    This is lower than the lowest of the low. Poor lady.

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    Mute Muriel Ryan
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    Jan 7th 2023, 4:26 PM

    Very sad R.I.P Lady .

    Hope this driver is caught ASAP

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    Mute Ray_Liotta
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    Jan 7th 2023, 4:25 PM

    Doesn’t it now become a murder investigation because the lady has passed away?

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jan 7th 2023, 7:23 PM

    @Ray_Liotta: Manslaughter.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jan 7th 2023, 7:41 PM

    News item last year – A young driver who drove through a red light and knocked down a pedestrian who died has received a fully suspended sentence.

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