A family who have been left homeless after their landlord sold their rented accommodation has spoken of their struggle to find a place to live.
Fran, his wife and three young children have not been able to find a place to live despite applying for hundreds of houses.
The family of five have been living in a hostel for the last number of weeks.
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Fran spoke to Dublin Live about the ordeal the family have suffered over the past month since leaving their previous house.
"Me and my wife were both working good jobs. We were in rented accommodation for the last seven years," he said.
"Covid hit and the two of us lost our jobs. After that, we were told by the landlord that he was going to sell the rented accommodation that we were living in.
"He gave us six months notice and basically since January we've been looking everywhere.
"We've been looking in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath. Basically out of the hundreds of applications we've had four viewings and no luck."
Their landlord allowed the family to stay in the house for a month extra as they had no luck finding anywhere.
"After we left our house (in April) we stayed with a friend for a couple of nights. Obviously that wasn't going to work out, she didn't have the space," he said.
The family paid for a hotel, and also had a few nights covered by Fran's college and his wife's work.
After getting in touch with homeless outreach worker Theresa Kelly, they got place in a hostel.
Fran said: "It would be okay for two adults but it's not okay for three children.
"In our old accommodation we could get a play pen to put up and the babies could move around but in a hostel, there's nowhere for babies to move around.
"Our stuff is just everywhere in the hostel. At the moment we don't feel safe. The accommodation is not fit for a family.
"My son is in school an hour from where we are, so my wife has to drive up every morning while I look after the babies."
Fran spoke about the stereotypes the family face due to being homeless.
"People make judgements that were sponging off social welfare or whatever. Me and my wife have both worked since we were 15," he said.
"The only time we ever lost jobs was through recession. When we did lose a job, both of us went back to college to re-educate.
"My wife went back to college after she was made unemployed and now has a career from that.
"I tried to change my career before the last time I was made unemployed. When I lost my job due to Covid, I went back to college rather than sit around.
"I wanted to have something else to help me get a job."
Fran also explained that the family have looked for houses all over the country and are willing to move anywhere, but because the HAP payment is lower in countries outside of Dublin it is difficult to find anywhere.
"We'd move anywhere around the country if there would be a house for us. All we want is a place to call home," he said.
A spokesman for Fingal County Council told Dublin Live: "When an individual or family present to Fingal County Council as homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, a Homeless Assessment is carried out and information and advice is given.
"Access to Emergency Accommodation may be provided where required - bookings are managed on behalf of the four Dublin Local Authorities by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Eligibility to access support under the Homeless HAP Scheme may also be approved if deemed eligible.
"While we would not comment on the details of individual cases, please be advised that a homeless assessment was conducted with this family and information was provided in relation to their circumstances.. They were also provided with access to Emergency Accommodation and have been approved to avail of Homeless HAP.
"Fingal County Council allocates social housing support to applicants on a time in need basis. This means that properties are allocated to applicants based on the length time that they are on our housing list."
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