Tuesday
I often look around and have to pinch myself. Is this really our forever home?
Dear Diary
Just checking in again to make this part of my daily routine. Having a routine helps me keep on top of the kids’ needs. And I’m trying to find some time for myself in that routine too. The kids are in bed now and I’m settling down for the night. This is the time of day I try to take a breath. I often look around and have to pinch myself. Is this really our forever home?
We lived in emergency accommodation for three years before we were blessed with our new home. I was very stressed when we were in emergency accommodation. It was myself and my three children in one room. No visitors allowed, so we couldn’t have friends or family in the room. We spent all our time in the room, where I couldn’t cook, wash the clothes or let my baby crawl. I felt so lonely and isolated. It was like my life had just stopped. I could never plan for the future without a safe and stable home.
When you are homeless, people see you differently. I felt judged, like people thought I had done something wrong or I wasn’t good enough.
In emergency accommodation, I felt so depressed – like I had nothing to offer. I felt like people didn’t understand that my family had ended up there because of circumstances out of our control. And you know, kids notice these things. They can see the sadness and pain in you. And you know it hurts them too and that just breaks your heart. We knew things would get better for us if we could just find our own home. And we’re here now. It’s our home, our sanctuary. Here we are safe and free.
Talk soon,
Faith
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