Dr. Austin O'Carroll:

We know that becoming homeless affects an individual's future in the long term. We now have a very specific issue that we have never seen before. Children came into homelessness in the past but usually because their parents were chaotic due to drug or alcohol addiction or because of family breakdown. Many of the parents now coming into homelessness remain very connected to their communities and to their GPs. They are still going to their GPs, and this is critical. We do not want to intervene because we want that connection to be maintained.

The question was asked as to how many additional services we need around children. I do not think that there is any service we can give to a child experiencing homelessness. What these children need are play areas and a stable life. Counselling is not going to do anything for children whose lives are chaotic. What they need is to get back into a home in the community where they started. That is the central issue. I do not think that putting more services in place helps. Many of the parents in question are quite stable and are keeping things together. It is the parents, not the children, who need support in this chaotic situation. As was already mentioned by Ms Randall, there is a need to maintain transport to and from the family GP so that the connection can be maintained. The main thing is get them out of homelessness as soon as possible.