The profound negative effects of homelessness on children - Ruane, Cork South West and O'Toole, North Tipperary
The damaging effects of homelessness on children will have serious lasting mental health and repercussions for them
In a joint statement Aontú’s Mairead Ruane and Francis O’Toole, both of whom work in the area of Mental Health and Psychology say children who are homeless will not have the same opportunities to flourish.
O’Toole who is a Psychotherapist and is standing for Aontú in Tipperary North says
“The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “All children are born to flourish.” While this sentiment reflects an ideal truth, for the 4,170 children currently experiencing homelessness in Ireland, flourishing may feel like an unattainable dream. The negative impacts of homelessness on children are profound, affecting their education, social connections, physical health, and mental well-being.
As a psychotherapist and teacher with over 30 years of experience, I have witnessed firsthand the ways homelessness disrupts a child’s development. Education is often the first casualty. Homeless children frequently miss school because their families are forced to move often, disrupting not only their learning but also their ability to build lasting peer relationships. Even when they do attend school, they may lack a stable and suitable environment for studying, leading to struggles with literacy and numeracy. A lack of access to educational resources further compounds these challenges, often resulting in lower grades.
Transportation is another hurdle. Homeless families may live far from schools, causing attendance issues or leading to school refusal altogether. Without a sense of belonging, children can feel alienated or ashamed, which may result in social withdrawal or stigma. This isolation can hinder their ability to bond with classmates, sometimes leading to behavioural issues that manifest as aggression or withdrawal in social settings. Over time, these barriers delay cognitive and emotional development, setting back a child’s growth in fundamental ways.
Homelessness also poses a serious threat to physical health. Children in homeless families often lack nutritious food, which is essential for growth, play, and maintaining a robust immune system. This makes them more susceptible to illness, particularly when they live in unsanitary or overcrowded conditions. Medical care can be hard to access, and delays in seeking treatment can exacerbate minor health issues into serious conditions.
The psychological toll of homelessness is equally severe. Many children from homeless families are referred to child welfare agencies like TUSLA due to concerns about neglect, exploitation, or exposure to unsafe environments. Homeless children are more vulnerable to trafficking, labor abuse, or witnessing violence. Constant instability and lack of security can lead to chronic stress, disrupting brain development and impairing emotional regulation. The resulting anxiety and depression can escalate into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), leaving deep emotional scars.
To address these challenges, society must act decisively. We need to ensure access to stable housing for all families, provide targeted mental health supports, and develop comprehensive educational and community services. Homelessness is not just a temporary disruption—it perpetuates cycles of poverty, instability, and trauma. By breaking this cycle, we can give every child the chance to flourish as they were born to do.
No child should have to fight such overwhelming odds just to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they don’t have to”.
Psychologist Mairead Ruane who is standing for Aontú in Cork South West says the scandal of child homelessness is truly a stain on our country and it is appalling that little children have to carry the pain of the ineptitude of successive governments on housing.
She says
“Children are like sponges, they pick up on everything. They feel and sadly are stigmatised because they feel LESS, home less , anchorless, base less. They feel adrift. The terrible thing too is that so many of these children then end up in residential care and this perpetuates the cycle. They are separated then form their families and this just compounds the issue”.
