A homeless mother from Dublin has spoken of her fears she could end up burying one of her young autistic sons if they're forced to move back to a hub.
Jade and her family had spent three years in emergency accommodation - in hotel rooms and family hubs - that she says were not suitable for her children with additional needs.
The mum and her four sons had been living in a house in Clondalkin, but were sent an eviction notice due to the landlord selling up.
READ MORE: Housing crisis is 'easier to describe than solve' says Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Jade told Dublin Live that one of her sons, who is a flight risk, had sprinted out of their accommodation onto a busy road in Drumcondra. She fears that the same thing might happen again if they have to move back to a family hub.
Jade said: "I have four sons and three of them are diagnosed with autism. Two of them are non-verbal.
"You're not allowed lock the doors in the homeless accommodation because of the fire and safety hazards. The kids just kept getting out all the time. When I was doing up bottles for my new-born, the kids would be running out the door.
"One of my kids ended up at the train station in Drumcondra when we were living in the hub there on Clonliffe Road. I'm still not over it.
"I ran after him, and as I was running a woman asked if I was looking for a little boy. It was 6 September on a Saturday afternoon. I'll never forget it."
Jade got an eviction notice in February this year after a year in the family's new home, and can only stay there until July 27. She is fearing the worst and feels the uncertainty is having a negative impact on the entire family.
She said: "Everything just went badly from there. The landlord is selling the house. I'm trying to refuse homeless accommodation at the moment.
"I could be burying one of my kids. I'm trying to calm one child down and another one is running out the door.
"When I first got the eviction notice, I had a breakdown. I knew what was coming again. My kids had to stay with family.
"One of my sons had made lots of friends in the area and now he has to move again. The change isn't doing them any good, their behaviour changes because they aren't able for all the changes."
Dublin Live have contacted Dublin City Council and Crosscare for comment.
READ NEXT :
Former garda jailed for sickening 'alcohol-fuelled' assaults on women
Rat infestation found at child detention centre housing Ana Kriegel's killers
Hopes of justice for Michaela McAreavey dashed as linked case thrown out
Ireland house prices: The salary you need to buy a home in every county in 2022
Met Éireann predict surge in temperatures to arrive in early July forecast
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter .
