You are here:

A home

7-12

years

old

What does this mean?

Children have a right to a safe place to live.

A safe place to live is a basic need that your parents need to meet but it is also the government’s job to help them to do that.

Sometimes the government can give you a home if you or your family need help but it might take a long time.

Children in Ireland that do not have a safe place to live can go to emergency accommodation with their families. Emergency accommodation is a place for people to live for a little while if they can’t live in their own home.

There are rules that make sure emergency accommodations, houses or apartments being built are safe for children to live in – but it’s still not always the nicest place for children to be for a long time!

If you are forced to leave your home country because it is unsafe, you can come to Ireland to be protected. From the time you arrive into the country, the government should provide you with somewhere safe to live.

Did you Know?

In November 2025, child homelessness reached the highest ever figure at 5,231 in Ireland.

You can follow this link to see updated numbers.

Mikie’s story

Mikie lived with his mam, dad and younger sister in the same house all his life. When he turned 11, they had to move out because the landlord was selling the house. His parents couldn’t find anywhere else to live so they moved into emergency accommodation provided by the government, it was very different for Mikie as he had to share a room and didn’t have a back garden to play in anymore.

Find out what you can do when you’re not getting your rights.