Housing crisis leaves women living in tents
Eilís Ryan
There is a difference between complaining and explaining – and that is what three women from the Mullingar area say they are doing as they try to draw attention to the difficulties they have encountered in securing accommodation during what is a housing crisis without precedence in this country.
Lynsie O’Keeffe, 33, Sarah Harte, 40, and a third woman (who asked us to remove her details from the online version of this article), are currently without a permanent home.
Lynsie and Sarah are sleeping in tents at the Fairgreen in Mullingar and the other woman is living in her car.
All three stress that they are grateful for the help they have received from family, friends and members of the local community. But they say that kindness cannot substitute for having a permanent home.
Their stories highlight some of the complexities facing people who become homeless, including the process of obtaining access to emergency accommodation, the shortage of landlords willing to accept HAP and the difficulties faced by people trying to secure suitable accommodation.
John Molloy, who initially interviewed the women on Facebook to make public their plight, said that what is happening is a humanitarian issue. He said it was “shocking” that Irish women have to live in tents while the government has allocated over €600m to a foreign country - Ukraine.
‘I can’t stay on couches’
Sarah Harte, originally from Patrick Street, is a member of a family who were involved in the undertaking business and in operating taxis.
Sarah moved to the UK and spent 13 years living in Manchester, where she and her former partner ran a small business. However the Covid crisis destroyed that business. She returned to Ireland in December 2025 following the end of the relationship and has since been trying to secure accommodation.
She said she has stayed with friends and relatives in different parts of the county but has reached the point where she cannot continue relying on other people’s generosity.
“I can’t keep sleeping on couches,” she said. “I need a bed.”
Sarah said she has been on the housing list and has repeatedly contacted the council, local representatives and others in an effort to secure access to emergency accommodation.
At the time of speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, she was facing her 12th night sleeping outdoors.
She has, however, received approval for what she described as an advanced HAP payment of €950, which she hopes will improve her chances of finding a property. The difficulty, she said, is finding a landlord prepared to accept the payment.
Sarah is keen to stress that she does not blame any individual for her circumstances. “The council are doing their part, the landlords can do their part,” she said. “It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just too hard.”
She believes the housing shortage is creating pressure across the system, and large numbers of people are competing for a limited supply of accommodation.
Sarah is also looking towards the future, having been approved for a course beginning in September. She said she wants to get her life back on track, but needs somewhere to live in order to do so.
“I really need a bed,” she said. “I can’t keep relying on my poor family and my friends. They’ve done the best they can. I just need my own little house.”
For Lynsie O’Keeffe, homelessness is something she has experienced before. Originally from the Westmeath area, she previously lived in Galway,… where she rented privately with the assistance of HAP. She said that, at the time, a rent of €850 was manageable with a HAP payment of around €600-€680.
However, she said the situation has changed dramatically, and rents in the Mullingar area now reach around €1,250, while finding landlords willing to accept HAP can be extremely difficult.
Lynsie said the breakdown of a relationship in Galway contributed to her housing difficulties and she subsequently spent periods in emergency accommodation.
She is currently relying on friends while attending a course with the National Learning Network in Tullamore.
She said she has been in contact with Westmeath County Council and is on the housing list, but has encountered difficulties obtaining access to emergency accommodation. She is trying to procure from the council a voucher that will entitle her to stay somewhere such as the Newbrook Hotel, which caters for people in her situation.
In the meantime, she has been sleeping in a small tent. “I just need somewhere that I can go and lock my door,” she said.
Her ultimate aim, she said, is to have a permanent home where she can feel secure. “I just need my own little house. I need my own space.”
Lynsie, who had initially been sleeping alone beside the canal, said she saw social media posts about Sarah, and realised they would be safer if they could pitch their tents in the same place.
People in the houses opposite have, she said, been generous in terms of helping them with food and some of the small comforts of life.
‘It’s no good sleeping in a car’
The third woman has been living in her car since December 29 last year. She previously ran a successful business but was eventually forced to give up the work because of serious physical difficulties.
She had owned her home but circumstances have now left her homeless (she didn't want the details published online).
Since the end of last year she and another person have been living in her car. She said they try to park in places where they can access facilities such as showers.
Trina said she has contacted Westmeath County Council seeking an appointment to discuss her situation.
She said the council had documentation relating to her circumstances, including bank statements, and that she had been told she would have to wait until suitable accommodation became available.
“It’s no good sleeping in a car,” she said.
‘The response has been amazing’
The three women have come together through their shared circumstances, and local people are also offering support.
People have brought them food, hot drinks, blankets and other supplies, while others have offered access to showers and other facilities.
Sarah described the response from the public as “amazing”.
Their circumstances have also attracted attention on social media, as local people shared posts about their situation and offered assistance.
The women have been looking out for one another as they try to cope with their circumstances.
All three say they are trying to find a solution rather than simply highlight their difficulties.
While they acknowledge the complexity of the housing crisis, they say their experiences demonstrate how difficult it can be to move from being without a home to accessing even temporary accommodation.
For now, they remain dependent on the kindness of others – grateful for the help they have received, but hoping that help will ultimately lead to a front door they can close behind them.
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Council response
Asked for a comment on the situation of the two women living in tents and the third woman sleeping in a car, Westmeath County Council responded that homelessness is a “complex issue”.
The council pointed out that they do not comment on individual cases, but said they engage with individuals who present as being at risk of homelessness on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with statutory obligations under the Housing Act 1988.
Continuing, the council stated that individuals who believe they are at risk of homelessness are assessed by the Council’s Homeless Services team, who consider all relevant circumstances, including housing needs, available supports, and any alternative accommodation options that may be available.
“Decisions are made based on the information and evidence provided, and appropriate supports are offered in line with the person’s assessed needs,” the response stated, adding that the supports may include assistance through social housing supports, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), homeless prevention measures, and, where warranted, emergency accommodation.
The response explained that homeless services are delivered on a regional basis across Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois. While the council have designated emergency accommodation available within the region, demand for the services remains significant.
“Currently, 210 individuals are accommodated in emergency accommodation across the Midlands Region, including 56 in County Westmeath,” the response stated, going on to conclude that the council remain committed to working with individuals at risk of homelessness and with partner agencies to ensure that appropriate supports and interventions are provided.