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Today, Friday 10th November, Novas homeless services hosted a Seminar on Childhood Experiences of Homelessness in Limerick and launched their 2016 Annual Report.
An exhibition of photos chronicling the life of homeless families, presentations from a range of experts and a moving contribution from a mother, Kate, who has experienced homelessness with her four children, all portrayed the lived experiences of children in emergency accommodation, without security or stability.

The speakers: Dr. Sharon Lambert of the Department of Psychology in UCC, Nuala Ward, Director of Investigations with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, highlighted the profound impact of homelessness on children in terms of their play, education, development, nutrition and their physical and mental well-being.

Kate O Loughlin who was recently homeless with four children and pregnant described the behavioural changes in her young children while being homeless, which included bedwetting and being withdrawn. She described the ‘devastation’ she felt when there was no hotel available to take her and her four children and she had to ‘choose’ one to live with a friend during this period. This was particularly impactful on her eldest daughter, on whom the separation was very difficult. Kate and her children have been recently housed by Novas and are now thriving.

The seminar highlighted the impact of homelessness on children and also the opportunities to move families from emergency accommodation as soon as possible. Novas recently bought 33 family homes in Limerick and Dublin as a means of alleviating the crisis and work closely with local authorities in identifying properties and the families most in need.

Novas’ 2016 Annual Report also highlights the extent of child homelessness. Last year the organisation worked with 570 children in Limerick city and west Cork. The number of families presenting to its Limerick-based Intensive Family Support Service was 196, an increase of almost 100% from the previous year. The numbers accessing support continues to rise.
Throughout the twelve month period, Novas worked with more than 3,500 people, an increase of 47% from the previous year and 270% from 2010. Some 8% of all adults accessing their services were under 21 years of age, highlighting the declining age profile of the homeless population.

The organisation is responding to the crisis through the procurement of long-term housing, the development of homeless and ancillary services (such as respite and community detox) and the extension of its Housing First programmes in Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary.