A Newry healthcare worker says his partner and three young children are being forced to live in “distressing” cramped emergency accommodation at a local hotel as the family’s homelessness crisis enters a second week.
The Daisy Hill Hospital frontline worker contacted Armagh I claiming the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is failing to provide safe and suitable accommodation, despite the family being awarded Full Duty Applicant (FDA) status – meeting all the criteria for homelessness – after their landlord sold their rented home in Barcroft Park.
He and his partner, who have children aged six, five and one, say they have now spent eight nights in a hotel, with “no time frame” given for a move because there is “no available stock”.
“All five of us – including our one‑year‑old baby and two school‑aged children – are forced to eat, live and sleep inside a single hotel room,” he told Armagh I.
“The lack of space is causing extreme distress, severe sleep deprivation, and is deeply affecting our children’s emotional well‑being and ability to function at school.”
The father says the family must share toilets, showers, cooking facilities, dining areas and laundry space with adult strangers, describing it as “completely impossible” to safely or hygienically prepare meals or sterilise bottles for their baby. He claims there are set times for hot water, that they can only eat and drink in communal areas and an 11pm curfew.
He added: “We are coming forward to expose the unacceptable conditions we are being subjected to. It is not suitable for any family, never mind one with three young children.”
He says that, in an effort to ease overcrowding, the Housing Executive offered the family two separate rooms in the hotel – but stresses that these rooms are not adjoining or interconnecting, and are located along a public corridor.
“Our children are toddlers and infants,” he said. “Leaving a six‑ and five‑year‑old unattended in a separate room down a public hotel corridor is a catastrophic child protection and safeguarding risk. We rightfully refused to split up our children, meaning all five of us remain trapped in a single room.”
He says the situation is pushing the family “to breaking point”.
“I am trying to hold down my shifts at Daisy Hill Hospital to serve the community while knowing my children are trapped in an environment that fails basic child welfare and suitability standards,” he said.
The family say they have raised their concerns with the Housing Executive, have contacted Children’s Social Services, and have sought political support in the Newry and Armagh area.
They have asked that their children’s identities are kept anonymous for safeguarding reasons.
Armagh I contacted the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for a response.
A spokesperson said: “We recognise that this is a difficult and distressing situation for the family involved, particularly given that there are young children in the household. We understand that living in emergency accommodation can be challenging and we are committed to working with the family to secure more suitable accommodation as soon as possible.
“We can confirm that the main applicant was awarded Full Duty Applicant status on 19 September 2025.
“On August 21, the applicant and her household contacted us after being served with a Notice to Quit by their private landlord. Every effort was made to help sustain the tenancy; however, this was not possible. As a result, the family was placed in emergency accommodation on September 2.
“The Housing Executive is facing significant pressures in the provision of temporary accommodation and whilst hotel and B&B accommodation is not our preferred option for families, it is sometimes used as an emergency measure when suitable standard temporary accommodation is not immediately available. Our priority is to ensure that households have access to safe accommodation and do not face homelessness.
“The accommodation provider has confirmed that the family is currently accommodated across two rooms. Although adjoining or interconnecting rooms were not available, sleeping accommodation was provided for all members of the household. In such instances, we would expect parents to make appropriate sleeping arrangements for their children – for example, by each parent sharing a room with one or more children. This remains an emergency placement pending the availability of more suitable temporary accommodation.
“We continue to actively explore all suitable options for the household and have considered all accommodation that is currently available. We remain in contact with the family and, when suitable temporary accommodation becomes available, it will be offered to them as quickly as possible.”
