Anne-Marie and her two young daughters were residents of Peter McVerry Trust’s family service in Athy, Co Kildare, before moving on to their own accommodation.

She entered homelessness due to unsuitable conditions in her previous accommodation.

“I was out in a caravan for two years. It wasn’t fit for kids, we didn’t have running water or toilets, and there used to be rats coming out of a nearby river. I had to leave it for the children’s sake, I was frightened in case anything would happen to them.

Anne-Marie and her children stayed in the Family Hub for two months.

“I didn’t want to go at first, but when I came down and when I saw the people, I was happy with it. The staff were very good here, very friendly. They did a lot for us here,” she says.

“I was happy to get my own place though. I’m looking forward to our future now.”