A LETTERKENNY-based family have been made homeless this morning after being asked to leave their temporary accommodation.

Speaking to the Donegal News Jo Ahmed, who is currently in the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny with her husband Mohammed and four children has appealed for help.

 

She explained: “We came to Ireland in November last year to try and make a new life for ourselves. I had spent ten years in a custody battle with my ex-husband and we wanted to re-locate. We had savings when we moved to Ireland and we did our research before we came here. We had a well thought out plan because we want to live together as a family.”

 

However, facing setback after setback the family now find themselves down on their luck, with no money and no roof over their head.

They had been receiving help from the local branch of St Vincent de Paul and had been living in temporary accommodation at Gleneany House B&B. However, they were told by the property’s owner that they would have to move out as it was closing for an inspection.

“I am a paediatric nurse and I have applied for hundreds of jobs since we moved to Ireland. I can’t work as a nurse here yet because my accreditation hasn’t been approved. I’ve been told that could take up to six months. I have my English registration and am fully Garda vetted here, it doesn’t make sense.” 

 

“The Council have told us that they cannot provide us with emergency accommodation because we don’t meet the habitual residency requirements. I am an EU citizen, surely there is something they can do. They said it was my decision to come here and said I should be able to support my family myself.”

“My children are aged 15, 6, 3 and 2 and two of them are in school here. I receive child benefit here and am waiting for the Department of Social Welfare to make a decision on the habitual residency requirement.”