Mary and Robert were expecting their fourth child when they received notice to leave their home. The family spent six months residing in emergency accommodation provided by B&Bs and hotels.

“[When we were in the hotels] if there was a wedding or anything, we were asked to leave. To go and have your dinner, for a family like us it was €60,” says Mary.

Kildare County Council secured a place for the family in Peter McVerry Trust’s family service in Athy, Co Kildare.

“When I first moved in, I was pregnant with Nathan. They helped me get everything I needed for the hospital and they were a great support to Robert while I was in hospital,” says Mary.

After applying to the local authority, Mary and Robert moved into their new home in February with their children.

“When you have your own home, it is totally different. This is our forever home. I can express what it feels like to have our own home,” says Mary.