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	Two children who were forced to move from their homes due to domestic violence spent almost two years in temporary accommodation with poor standards, according to an investigation by the Ombudsman for Children&rsquo;s Office (OCO).</p>
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	The children, aged five and 17, were originally placed in an emergency refuge for three months before moving from a B&amp;B to hotel, according to the director of investigations Nuala Ward.</p>
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	&ldquo;The quality of accommodation varied greatly. At one stage they walked into accommodation where there were dirty, blood-stained mattresses for the children. In another there were eight beds in one small room,&rdquo; she said.</p>
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	The report also shows that the family were offered accommodation in which a friend of the violent ex-partner lived.</p>
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	&ldquo;They were already vulnerable children who had left a domestic violence situation who were just seeking somewhere safe to stay,&rdquo; Ms Ward told RT&Eacute; Radio one on Monday.</p>
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	Mr Ward said this case is an indicative example of a more widespread that includes families with children who have disabilities. Ms Ward said it would be difficult to determine the long-term impact of this stress and disruption on their lives.</p>
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	&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know what it is like for them to experience that level of insecurity and fear and witnessing the stress of their parents as they try to cope with that very difficult situation,&rdquo; she said.</p>
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	The OCO found that simple mistakes were made at the start. The mother was originally referred to the wrong unit where she then had to find her own accommodation on a week-to-week basis. She said the incorrect referral was made in a transitory period caused by the incomplete implementation of a new government circular.</p>
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	&rdquo;This is the system that families are experiencing at the moment due to the crisis. This is the impact on the ground and on the lives of very young children,&rdquo; she added.</p>
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	Ms Ward said the Dublin Region Homelessness Executive and Fingal County Council have made commitments that the mistake won&rsquo;t be repeated.</p>
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	&ldquo;In particular, there needs to be greater clarity in terms of the vulnerability of children who are victims of domestic violence so that there is a very clear path for them to find a safe place within the current crisis.</p>
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	&ldquo;We feel the Government should ensure that children&rsquo;s rights and children&rsquo;s needs are much more up front in any news housing policy or development that comes into place,&rdquo; she said.</p>
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	She said that children are a new population entering the homeless sector and that efforts need to be made to reduce this.</p>
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	&ldquo;One in three people living in emergency accommodation is a child,&rdquo; Ms Ward added.</p>
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	She added that it was important for clarity that these children are regarded as homeless as soon as they leave their homes but recommended a child-centred approach instead.</p>
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	&ldquo;We would recommend that the perpetrator of the violence would leave the family home and children are allowed to stay in a place that&rsquo;s known to them, with their friends, with their school and with their community,&rdquo; Ms Ward said.</p>
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	&ldquo;We are urging the Government to immediately implement their National Quality Standard Homeless Services and put in a robust inspection regime,&rdquo; she added.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 24th July 2017)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/children-forced-to-stay-in-temporary-accommodation-with-dirty-bloodstained-mattresses-investigation-finds-35962941.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/children-forced-to-stay-in-temporary-accommodation-with-dirty-bloodstained-mattresses-investigation-finds-35962941.html</a></p>
