'My kids haven't missed a day of school': Homeless mum whose family spent night in Dublin Garda station
A homeless woman and her seven young children who slept at a Garda station has been offered accommodation by the local council.
Margaret Cash has been told a three-bedroom apartment in Dublin city will be made available to her family from Friday.
The single mother and her children have been at a the centre of national debate after photos emerged on social media of the family sleeping in Tallaght Garda Station last week.
Ms Cash, 28, had turned down emergency accommodation that had been offered to the family in Co Meath because she said it was too far away.
She said the situation had become so bad she felt compelled to highlight the family's plight.
"It has come to actually publicising your children," she said.
She told RTE Radio One's Today With Miriam programme that she felt guilty about not having a home for her children.
"I felt horrible as a mother... you feel like, why is this me?," she said. "Why it this happening to me?"
Margaret went on to say her kids have not missed a day in school yet, "homeless or not".
Being homeless for the last year with seven young children, Margaret spoke of staying in the Garda station on a few occasions. ‘They’re gonna know I’m homeless coz of you’, Margaret’s son Tommy has said to her about having to face school since her photograph, to which she said that they all know already.
On facing criticism since going public said that just because she’s homeless, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have any money. She has money, just not enough. She saved hard for her daughter's Communion dress, she says, after criticism of it online. She added: "I never told anybody I was poor."
"Being poor and being homeless are two entirely different things."
Ms Cash said she has been told she will be given a week's trial in the apartment from Friday and after that they will take it month by month.
"It's better news than what it was last week, when they were expecting me to go night by night again," Ms Cash said. "I'm really happy".
She added that her children will be over the moon.
Inner City Helping Homeless has been working as an advocate for Ms Cash.
To listen to the full interview click here.
