Shane (27) and Ciara (29) Dwyer, a married couple from the Jobstown area of west Dublin, say they have been sleeping in their car for three weeks.
They lost their rented accommodation on October 31st after their landlord, an estate agent, increased their rent by 50 per cent.
“In April they said they were going to sell the house, and we started looking for somewhere else,” says Ciara. “Then, in August, they said they were going to keep it but the rent was going up from €700 to €1,050 a month. We couldn’t afford that.”
Neither is working. Ciara has severe agoraphobia and experiences panic attacks. Shane has effectively become her carer. She cannot be alone for extended periods. Also, if he did take up employment they would lose their rent allowance. As a safe home is so important for Ciara’s mental health, he says retaining the rent allowance had been a priority.
As a couple, they are entitled to €540-a-month rent allowance and allowed to pay a rent capped at €750 per month. “We haven’t been able to find anywhere,” she says. Staying around west Tallaght is important as she needs to be near her sisters, she says.