What are some of the challenges facing Ireland’s homeless families? Barnardos is Ireland’s largest children’s charity. Since 1962 It has worked with families to assist children of all ages. With a goal of breaking through the cycle of disadvantage, it provides numerous direct services to families including breakfast clubs, early intervention, counseling for children who have witnessed violence, and practical home support. Families are being moved out of their communities, away from their families, schools and local supports to temporary homeless accommodation which is often hotels. Children are arriving into centers are often exhausted because their sleep has been disturbed due to other guests in these places. Sometimes children only have the space between their beds to play within the accommodation. Families do not have access to cooking facilities. If they are lucky, they may have access to a microwave. Mostly families are forced to live off fast food which is detrimental to the family’s health and children’s development. Family meals are shared sitting on beds. Families often only have access to a washing machine for one hour per week. Children are suffering low self-esteem, anxiety, confusion and helplessness as they try to cope with the insecurity of homeless- ness and the associated pressure on their parents. Children are falling behind in school or missing school days because of long commutes from homelessness accommodation and restricted space to do homework in the evening. At any moment in one of the 40+ centers they maintain across the island of Ireland, Barnardos is hard at work feeding children, helping homeless families in crisis, and advocating for the rights of children in the court system. The Ireland Funds has been a longtime supporter of Barnardos’ key programs and most recently provided a Flagship Grant of €40,000 euros 2017 to provide direct support to families experiencing homelessness in North Dublin. connect 2019 • 47