Saturday, February 15, 2025

Young mothers ‘in desperation’ over housing

THE housing crisis in Mullingar at present has left a lot of people in dire need of help and two young mothers spoke separately to Topic this week about the harrowing situation in which they find themselves.
One has three daughters, the other has a son, and both mothers are at their wits end trying to find suitable homes in the town. The cost of renting now is prohibitive and in some cases it has risen to over €800 a month, making it impossible for people on social welfare to find a home.
It was revealed at a Council S.P.C (Strategic Policy Committee) meeting on housing on Monday that 2,696 live applications were made in Westmeath by the end of August this year, with 15 applicants placed in hostels. The cost of renting privately has soared to over €800 a month and people feel they are at the mercy of landlords who can demand exorbitant prices.
One of the mothers Topic spoke to can’t even find a room in a hostel and she is facing the prospect of ending up on the streets after 17 October, unless she can find a house that’s affordable. The stress of it has had a serious impact on her health.
“I’m on the Council list for 11 years and I have never been offered a house,” explained Bernadette Keogh. ‘You could be lucky next week,’ – that’s all I’m told by the Council, but I’m listening to that same line since last November and nothing has changed. I’m surprised I’m not in St Loman’s at this stage,” she added.
Bernadette, who has been on RAS (Rental Accommodation Scheme) with the council for seven years, received notice from her landlord in March that the house she was renting would be sold. She was offered a house in Ardleigh at that stage, but owing to difficult circumstances, she refused. It seems now she is paying a heavy price for that refusal, although a form seen by Topic clearly specifies that candidates are entitled to one refusal.
“I met with my local TD and got a doctor’s letter outlining the health problems that the stress of all this is causing. I met with a council official also to get back on the housing list; I would have settled for a house outside of town, but nothing is available,” she said.
Renting under the RAS scheme was costing Bernadette €600 a month, but when the house went up for sale, the RAS stopped, leaving her facing an impossible situation. With no income, rent arrears have been piling up and the Residential Tenancy Board has intervened.
She now faces the prospect of a €3,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment (or both). She must juggle that pressure with trying to find a home.
In the meantime, the cost of renting a house in the Abbeylands estate where she lives has jumped to €830 a month.
“I have until 17 October to find a house; there are houses in Athlone for €500 a month that would be affordable, but there’s nothing in Mullingar,” she said.
Bernadette is also frustrated that people who are less years on the housing list are being housed by the council. She has a seven-year-old daughter who is preparing for First Communion and settled in school on Mullingar. Her 15-year-old daughter hasn’t returned to secondary school following the Junior Certificate as Bernadette is uncertain about where they will be living after October. Her third daughter is 17 years old.
“I may be faced with the prospect of having to uproot and leave as we cannot find a home in Mullingar,” said the distressed mother of three.
Bernadette’s health problems are serious: a doctor’s letter reveals she has been diagnosed with hypertension lipid disorder caused by the stress of the housing crisis she finds herself in.
High blood pressure is just one of the symptoms. Medication includes anti-depression tablets.
“I’m actually stuck; I really don’t know where to go from here,” she added.
Another young Mull­ingar mother Topic spoke to is equally desperate to find a proper home in the town. At present she is housed by the council in a two-bedroom house that is damp and cold.
Monica Murphy, who has one son, said she had no choice but to move from two different estates in the town and the circumstances forced her into taking an overdose. She has since been housed in alternative accommodation under the RAS scheme, but the house in which she currently resides needs renovating.
Monica is desperately trying to find a new home, but the cost of rent is making it impossible.
“I have to find a month’s deposit and it’s at least €700 a month for a two bedroom apartment. Some of the landlords I have contacted, when they learned I am unemployed, they don’t want to know. I feel people are now at the mercy of greedy landlords,” she said.
Monica has suffered with chest infections from the conditions of the house she was put in. She borrowed money to do it up as best she could, but the dampness and cold remains.
“The other option I have is to rent privately, but I can’t afford that. It’s over €800 a month. I’m constantly with the doctor for chest infections. As far as I can see, the council saw a lamb and put me to the slaughter,” she said.
Monica was visibly very distressed and emotional.
Topic contacted Westmeath County Council, but at the time of going to press on Tuesday had received no reply.

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