NI mum on family’s experience of homelessness including living between different hotels

A mum from Northern Ireland has shared her family's experience to show how easy it can be for anyone to become homeless.

Claire and her family were living in a private rental before becoming homeless. The property they lived in had many maintenance issues, however, nothing was done by the landlord at the time to remedy this, even when approached by environmental health.

Following this, the 45-year-old and her family were given notice to vacate the property as the landlord was putting it up for sale, forcing the family to present as homeless. Their first stay in temporary accommodation saw them travelling from the Bangor area to Belleek in Co Fermanagh.

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The family spent three months travelling back and forth between the same five hotels or lodges, costing hundreds in taxis each time.

In July 2024, Claire was offered a space in the Salvation Army's Thorndale House, finally giving her a proper address again and some stability after a traumatic few years.

Speaking to Belfast Live about her family's experience of homelessness, Claire said: "We were told by housing to put our stuff in storage and just to pack clothes that would do us.

"They sent us a taxi out to bring us to a lodge in Belleek for the weekend, then we were moved to a hotel in Antrim, we then went to West Belfast where we were for about three or four weeks, then we were moved down to Enniskillen for a few days, before going to Kilkeel for four weeks.

"You were wondering when it was going to end. We didn't even have washing machines - you were having to clean your clothes in the sink."

Claire bought pots and pans, a mini fridge, and a two ringed hob as she wanted to be able to cook for her family and not spend money on fast food multiple times a day. She said she wasn't sure if this was allowed in hotel rooms, but it's what she needed to do to ensure her family got well-balanced meals.

She added: "Housing have been good to us, they can only do what they can with the funds and resources they have. I have my teenage daughter with me, and it's been a lot of moving around for her, it's very stressful, and it's had a real effect on her school work."

Now that they're settled in Thorndale House in North Belfast, Claire's 17-year-old daughter is able to go to tech, with the family now finding some stability after months of moving around.

"That stability has been great for us. We've all been able to get into a routine, where when you were homeless and moving around, you wouldn't know where you would be one day to the next," she explained.

"We're in a self-contained flat in Thorndale, so you can get on with your life without the homelessness hovering over you. But there's only so many spaces available here - what about all the other people who are homeless?"

Claire was sharing her story as part of Homelessness Awareness Week, taking place from December 2-8, and facilitated by Homeless Connect, the representative body for the homelessness sector in Northern Ireland.

Held annually, it seeks to challenge the stigma around homelessness and highlight the vital work of the homelessness sector here. The theme of this year's awareness week is 'Time for Change.'

The number of households with homelessness status on the social housing waiting list has reached unprecedented levels, with over 58,000 people from over 30,000 households now having this status. With over 5,100 children living in temporary accommodation (an increase of 110% since 2019) and the number of households needing this support continuing to rise, we urgently need as a society to drive forward real and meaningful change.

More information can be found on the Homeless Connect website by clicking here.

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