‘I’m terrified of becoming homeless’... Mother of disabled child facing impossible task of finding suitable place to live

A SLANE mother of a disabled child is at her wit's end end as she faces the terrifying prospect of homelessness.

Christine Bollard is facing the almost impossible task or find new ground floor apartment or bungalow to rent that can accommodate her disabled son, having received notice to quit her rented home.

As well as the stark possibility of homelessness, Christine is dreading the prospect of having to move her eight year old son Jayden from Slane National School, which provides him with all the additional accommodations he needs to cope with school.

"We may end up homeless or in emergency accommodation and I have no idea how we will be able to cater for Jayden's needs," she says.

Christine, who lives with her two sons, Jayden (8) and Peter (7), in Slane has been give notice to quit, coming into effect on 20th September.

"It is impossible to find somewhere suitable to live for Jayden.

"When assessed for HAP, they said they will only assist if the accommodation doesn't have a stairs. I need a ground floor apartment or a bungalow, but any type of housing is very hard to get," she says.

Christine explains that Jayden has a brain injury, epilepsy and ADHD and uses a wheelchair for longer distances. He can suddenly lash out, so he needs a good routine.

"I'm not sleeping. I'm terrified of becoming homeless or ending up in emergency accommodation, which would be totally unsuitable for Jayden. I'm at my wit's end.

"It will be terrible if Jayden has to leave Slane NS. He has his own blackout tent and weighted blanket in the school, where he can go if he is kicking off and the staff have done epilepsy training.

"I have been on the housing list three years, but there is no mention of the council getting me a house. Jayden's Occupational Therapist and social workers are all advising that he shouldn't be moved from Slane.

"I have been searching everywhere for somewhere to live, but I cannot find anything, anywhere. "

Christine found herself in a similar situation a few years aback before she moved to her current accommodation in Slane three years ago.

"I ended up in emergency accommodation in Navan and travelled by bus to Slane every day to bring Jayden to School."

She explains that when Jayden was born his skull was fused and he had to have surgery to allow his brain grow.

Since then Jayden suffered a brain infection, which caused brain damage and epilepsy. He is also now also being assessed for autism.

"He was in hospital for five months and then Rehab for seven weeks. He has to go back for Rehab every six months."

"He has been to hell and back."

Christine feels overwhelmed at the task of trying to find accommodation that his suitable for her son. "Everyone is finding it hard to get somewhere to rent, but when it has to be a bungalow or ground floor, it is virtually impossible," she said.

Cllr Eddie Fennessy is appalled at Christine's situation.

"I tabled a motion to the council last week calling for an extension of the eviction ban. I put the motion forward to prevent vulnerable and at risk children from the trauma of homelessness. Christine's situation exposes that trauma and to be perfectly honest, it is unacceptable for a society to place that burden on her young shoulders.

"Compounding Christine's difficulty is her housing need. Her son's condition qualifies the family for a three bed groundfloor property. Those types of houses are like hen's teeth, the council doesn't have an abundance of them and emergency accommodation isn't suitable accommodation.

"I have one question to ask local Fine Gael and Fianna Fail elected members, where will this family go when their NTQ comes into effect."