Natasha Carey, a mother of four, says homelessness causes a “ripple effect” which often leads to greater health and social problems and addiction.
Being homeless means her family has been separated, something she is fighting to solve, but, without a home, this is impossible.
The 34-year-old Dubliner said: “I am battling at the moment to get my house before Christmas.
“I am number one on the housing list and I am number one on the homeless list, but I am number one for the last year and a half. I am getting nowhere... You still have to fight.”
She has been sleeping rough in a number of locations across the city. She said as a woman it is “very scary” to be on the streets.
“I was evicted out of Phoenix Park last week. I was living in a tent.
“Even the rangers said to me they were so sorry, they felt sorry for me. They said, while I am living in a tent, I keep it all well maintained and the area around it, but they had to evict me. It’s very scary.”
Source: Irish Examiner, 30/11/15