Source: https://apessay.com''People need to know that it is deadly to live like this.''
A fifth year student has opened up on the every day struggles of being homeless and living in emergency accommodation with her mother, brother and her older sister who returns from college at the weekends.
The teenager, who should be focusing on studying and socialising with friends, is instead subjected to an every day struggle that dominates her life.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland and going by the anonymous name 'Amanda,' the girl opened up on life as a homeless person with with her family. Discussing the impact homelessness has had on her mental health, education and social life.
"It’s really diminishing and degrading having to wake up and look at the dirt, the mould. It’s a struggle every day getting up and even just taking the blankets off yourself every morning. It’s horrible,'' she said.
''People need to know that it is deadly to live like this. You feel like you have no life left, living in here with no security, you just think 'what's the point?' you really do.''
Can't do normal things.
Amanda is receiving counselling, however given her extremely tough circumstances, she fears she cannot complete the Leaving Cert while living in a hotel room.
She is repeating fifth year as an indirect result of her homelessness and is hoping to study psychology at college.
"If I have to do my Leaving Cert here I know there will be no chance of me going to college."
Amanda said: "These are the years that I'm supposed to be focusing on getting a decent education, making friends, going out and living my life, but I can't even do normal things like open a bank account, because I don't have an address. I don't have anything that helps me in life."
The teen said only one person and a teacher know about her living circumstances at school.
She also recalled a day when she was reduced to tears after "a couple of lads started shouting 'oh yeah you're living the high life if you're homeless. You're living in a high-class hotel, you can just sit around doing nothing, waiting for a house that's paid for you.'"
Her family lost their home after Amanda's mother was unable to keep up with mortgage payments following a marriage breakdown.
They are living in a hotel room on a corridor that is filled with other homeless families.
Amanda criticised the government in relation to the homelessness crisis pointing to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy.
"It’s their job to care, and if they don't they shouldn't have the job. Give the job to someone else that actually cares."
