Homeless children 2011

Monitoring by the OCO of homelessness services for children

In September 2011, the Office initiated a consultation with young people with experience of homelessness and of accessing out-of-hours, crisis intervention and emergency accommodation services. The issue of homeless children has come to the attention of the Office through our Complaints and Investigation function, and has been dealt with on a case by case basis. It has also has been reported to the Oireachtas through previous annual reports.

The Office’s consultation sought to gain an insight into young people’s first-hand experiences of accessing and using homelessness services.

Between September and December 2011, the Office conducted face-to-face interviews with young people currently using, or with recent past experience of using such services in Dublin and Cork - the two places in Ireland where hostel-style accommodation is currently being used for young people.

Read OCO's press release here

Read Homeless Truths here - April 2012

Children's views & insights on accessing homelessness services

The OCO also produced a CD of spoken excerpts from interviews with children who have experienced homelessness. Listen to extracts here:

Track 1 - 3:32

Track 2 - 3:42

Track 3 - 3:14

Track 4 - 2:37

Track 5 - 2:44