A young family made homeless managed to secure emergency accommodation at the 11th hour which means they won’t be on the streets for the weekend.
Alan Fitzpatrick, 37, his wife Kelly, 30, their two boys Jack, 10, Bobby, six, and Alan’s daughter from a previous relationship, Kasey, 17, will stay in a Dublin city hotel room until Monday. Yesterday they had to hand back the keys to the landlord of their HAP rented house in Clondalkin before a planned eviction which happened through no fault of the family.
They feared they would be on the streets but yesterday afternoon a room became available in a hotel under emergency accommodation. A relieved Alan said: “It was a very hectic and stressful morning and afternoon. Thankfully through the help of Sinn Fein’s Mark Ward we managed to get a hotel for the weekend.”
Read more: Son of Dublin family due to be made homeless asks parents 'where are we going to sleep tonight?'
Mr Ward added: “This young family still doesn’t know where they will be come Monday when the kids go back to school.”
The Fitzpatricks were told in January by their landlord they have to be out of their Housing Assistant Payment scheme accommodation after 11 years. They have been canvassing local TDs and South Dublin County Council since January to help find them alternative accommodation.
On Friday, they had to hand back the keys. Kelly said earlier this week: “The kids are so worried asking where are they going to sleep tonight, how are they going to play their Playstation? They shouldn’t have to be asking these questions.
“We just want a house for our kids to call home and feel safe. It’s just heartbreaking.” Alan added he gave the Council and TD eight months’ notice to help them look for suitable accommodation.
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