A Dublin family of five is facing homelessness after being withdrawn from Dublin City Council's housing list.
"Joe" and his wife have three young children, one of which was born prematurely last week just seven months into term. The baby is currently in the NICU and Joe said his wife remains in serious condition in hospital due to complications during labour.
The family's current accommodation has been sold, and they need to be moved out in a few weeks' time. And speaking to Dublin Live, Joe said he is "worried sick" about the family potentially ending up homeless.
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"Back in 2007 I was put on the housing list, so for the last 15 years I was waiting on a place," Joe said. "I got married in 2016 and we had two kids. I was still on the housing list but I wasn't working at the time. We are after having our third child who was born prematurely."
Joe said after being out of work for 14 years, he secured a temporary job during the pandemic. About a month and a half ago he was told by his local councillor that a house was reserved for him in north Dublin.
"I was told I was up to number one on the list and I was going to be housed," he said. "The day afterwards someone from the Council rang me and said they needed three payslips and my P60.
"I said I was only temporary in my job and I came out with good wages last year because with Covid-19 I was able to do overtime."
Joe said last year he was about €5,000 above the threshold, but every other year he has been on the list he has been below it.
He said: "I was told that could be a problem. No one is taking into consideration that I am only temporary in my job. I was out of work for 14 years and no one said anything to me about a threshold."
Joe said he was then told my his local councillor that he was no longer being housed. 24 hours after suppling his payslips to the Council, Joe received a letter saying he had been withdrawn from the housing list.
"We are going to be put out of our current accommodation in six weeks time," he said.
"I have no idea where we are going to go."
Joe said he has been applying to countless houses to rent but has been unsuccessful. And he fears he and his family will be homeless when they move out of their current accommodation.
He said: "I've applied to so many houses and they're not even getting back in touch with me. I don't know where I'm going to go. Am I going to end up walking the streets?
"The baby is going to need special care as well. The baby's doctor told me that a homeless hub would be totally unsuitable for a premature baby."
A spokesman for Dublin City Council told Dublin Live that they do not comment on individual cases.
Joe's real name has been changed to protect his anonymity.
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