AN INJUNCTION WAS granted today against the female-led occupiers of 34 North Fredrick Street, at the top of O’Connell Street, calling on the activists to vacate the premises by 2pm today.  

Claire Woods Claire Woods

We went down to ask those who were there why they stood in support with the occupation. 

1) Shane Finnan, 24, Monaghan 

• Worker earning under €25,000
• Paying €650 month/€7,800 in rent 

Why are you here supporting women and children in occupation?

I think that single mothers are being disproportionately affected by some of the worst conditions of housing. I think it’s a broad issue in society generally [housing crisis], we have thousands of people affected, but definitely women and children are the most affected. 

2) Aoife O’Hagan, 24, Dublin 

• Worker, minimum wage at 20 hours and part-time artist
• Live at home, thankfully…[would] love to move out but not earning enough to

Why are you out here supporting women and children in occupation?

So the women and children occupation idea started…with the Pope’s visit..in solidarity with the Magdalene laundries. It was meant to be symbolic. 

It needs to be highlighted that the housing crisis is something that disproportionately affects women and children – not that men can’t be affected – often when it’s a single mother, they are the one with the children. There’s not as many options available to them…there’s less housing options available to  them because you can’t just be staying in any room in a place when you have kids…it’s not an option to flatshare a lot of the time. 

Claire Woods Claire Woods

3) Gillian Austin, 38, Dublin 

• Working in Home, and mother of two girls aged 4 and 8.
• Husband earns €40,000, and he’s supporting Gillian and their two children 
• Rent is €1,800 or €21.600 (so family is spending 54% of income before tax on rent)

I think it is important because for anyone to be able to get ahead the rents need to come down. Housing needs to be fixed. There’s so many homeless people on the streets. 

You’re a paycheck away from homelessness yourself.  We live month by month..there’s no savings whatsover cause how can you save when you’re paying rent and car and schools and shopping. No disposable at the end of the month. 

Claire Woods Claire Woods

4) Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, 28, dublin

• Studying psychology and an artist
• Living at home
• Working and earning under €30,000 

Why is this occupation for women and children of Ireland?

Mainly I think that single mothers are the most affected by the housing crisis. Obviously it’s affecting everybody, whether it’s people under pressure with rent or mortgage payments or people sleeping on couches or people who’ve lost their homes. Single mothers and their children who grew up not knowing where they are going to be sleeping at night or [they're] sleeping in hostels, it’s no way for a child to grow up. 

Claire Woods Claire Woods

5) Ivana Rubic, 25, Croatia

• Worker full time earning €35,000
• Her rent is €950 without utilities 

What do you say about the children who are growing up homeless in this country? 

Oh my god…that’s so…I don’t know what to say. This country is supposed to build some buildings, some apartments for that (sic) kids cause that’s not acceptable.

All things with the Church, with its history, I saw it on the news and read about it in the newspapers, they are supposed to do more [to help] than they do now…they have to help the homeless [and] the single mothers…this is not fair and it’s really expensive to be a single mother.

What do you think about the building being empty?

Well this country is supposed to invest in that building, make proper apartments for the kids and for single mothers, and for the homeless. No body deserves to stay and sleep on the streets without food, without bathroom, without you know, normal things for life.

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