Children in homelessness need their own space

A youth centre for children aged between 4 and 13 who are experiencing homelessness has been a great success, according to an independent assessment carried out by Dr Niamh Sheridan of the Togher Family Centre.

The POD – an integrated community care project – was established in Hollyhill in 2018, as a collaboration between Tusla and Good Shepherd.

The report – A Place to Belong - was based on a tailored survey which was answered by 48 children and 33 parents. The largest group of children who had responded – ten children – have been attending the centre for 6-12 months.

The report found that the predominant experience among children who responded was that the youth club was a positive. Having a space where they could play with their friends was ranked as one of the favourite activities of many of the respondents.

Dr Sheridan said that this ranking being so high was reflective of the pressures which homelessness puts on children’s abilities to make friends. She said that they are often unable to do simple things like having friends over for play dates while living in emergency accommodation.

The children also reported finding it easier to make friends in the setting and being more relaxed after leaving. These observations were echoed by the parents who also responded.

The support which the youth centre offers parents was also found to be positive. The centre allowed parents to have time to themselves which they otherwise would not have had.

Being able to take a break was the most cited benefit for parents - 19 said it was the main way they were supported by the centre.

Many activities that are taken or granted were also highlighted, including being able to take a shower or perform personal care in private (48%), have a private emotional release or a cry alone (42%), or even being able to meet a friend for coffee (13%).

Both parents and children highlighted the excellent work done by staff at the centre.

A minority of the responses to the centre were negative. However, Dr Sheridan said it was notable that all of these responses came from children aged between 10-13.

She said that age-specific programming for children in this age group should be introduced.

Dr Sheridan said that the centre plays a role in children’s lives even after they leave homelessness.

“The needs outlast housing. The trauma of homelessness doesn’t end when the family is housed. They only really start to process it then, because they’re only just coming out of it,” she said.

"Read across two independently surveyed groups, an eight-week data collection window, and a subsequent cross-correlation of both datasets, the evidence points toward a clear answer: yes,” said Dr Sheridan.

The POD is also partnered with the Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC), the HSE, and Healthy Ireland, and is supported by Cork City Council, the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB), Foróige, and Cuanless Refuge.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.