© Provided by Dublin Live Kevin Maughan with his two children – Kevin, seven, and six-year-old Shakira

A desperate homeless family where the father has attempted suicide three times in two months forms part of a damning dossier on our Government’s cruel housing policy.

Another family is forced to eat breakfast off the bedroom floor in a B&B because an autistic child can’t go to the dining room.

Other horror stories emerging involve a homeless man with cancer, a property with five people in a bed and three students kicked out of a converted shed at the back of a garden for complaining about paying €500 each a month.

Heartbreakingly, these are just a fraction of the shocking cases which highlight the real state of the housing and homelessness crises on Fine Gael’s watch.

The sad stories came flowing in to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald after a motion of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, introduced by the Social Democrats, failed last week.

Afterwards Mrs McDonald took to Twitter and asked the ordinary people of Ireland to submit their experiences so she could slam them back on to Leo Varadkar’s desk.

And she tells today how she was overwhelmed by the response as hundreds typed out their grim stories on phones and keyboards.

The party has verified the testimonies and the Irish Mirror has also spoken to many of those involved.

The resulting document – The Humans Of The Housing Crisis – is being published by Sinn Fein today.

The Irish Mirror last night spoke to Margaret Maughan in her emergency accommodation hotel room in Ennis, Co Clare.

She lives there with her husband Kevin and two children – Kevin, seven, and six-year-old Shakira. Young Kevin is looking forward to Santa returning to the emergency accommodation after his visit last year.

His simple letter reads: “Santa, my name is Kevin, please come to the hotel again with Batman toys.”

Ms Maughan explained the family has no cooker or fridge in their room.

This means it is more expensive as fresh items such as sandwiches and yoghurts have to be bought and prepared for school lunches every day. In the evenings, with nowhere to cook, usually unhealthy takeaway meals have to be bought in.

© Provided by Reach Publishing Services Limited Mary Lou McDonald

Ms Maughan said: “My little girl is six years old and was always a happy, bubbly, healthy child, but since becoming homeless she’s been nervous , anxious, sad and very hard to deal with.

“She has now been accepted by CAMHS [Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services] and is awaiting an assessment.

“My little boy is seven and ever since becoming homeless he has got severe asthma from staying in cold, damp rooms. He is on two inhalers and a nasal spray which he was never on before.

“My husband has got severe depression and has tried to kill himself three times in the last two months as this is just getting too much to deal with now.

“I am trying my best to hold everything together, but I just can’t keep it going much longer. We are really and truly struggling with being homeless. It is destroying our lives.”

Another mum revealed in a note to the Sinn Fein leader: “I am a mother of three. We have been living in a one-bedroom B&B accommodation for 16 months.

“This is our second Christmas here. My son has autism. “He hits, kicks and spits. We have breakfast in the morning here in the B&B.

“But I can’t bring him to the dining room for breakfast because of his behaviour. We all sit on the floor in the bedroom to eat.

“We have no access to the kitchen so we eat takeaway.”

Another man said: “I am 17 years on the list. Worked all my life.

“I’ll soon be homeless as I’ve been diagnosed with cancer and won’t be able to afford my rent.”

A man in a similar position added: “I am living with cancer. I am homeless and I am not receiving help from the council.

“I am HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] qualified, but landlords do not wish to deal with it.”

Deputy McDonald said: “Thousands of people forgotten by those in power. Bravery and strength shines through in every testimonial.

“Their stories deserve to be told. Their voices must be heard.”

MORE NEWS:

Earley expected to step down from FAI board (Independent.ie)