![\"Depaul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5213467_6_articleinline_David_20Carroll_20Head_20Shot.jpg\" "\\"Depaul")
Depaul CEO David Carroll: ‘We cannot sleepwalk into accepting homelessness figures as the new normal.’ File picture<\/p>\nHer advice to people who find themselves in a similar position is to keep asking for help.<\/p>\n
She spoke out as Depaul Ireland warned homeless families feel lost and hopeless with a 93% rise in reports of mental health challenges including self-harm.<\/p>\n
Chief executive David Carroll said: \u201cWhat is particularly troubling is the increase in families and children coming our way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The charity works across the whole island of Ireland including Cork, Waterford, and Dublin.<\/p>\n
Last year, five babies were born when their parents were being helped by Depaul. It supported 5,630 adults and 2,574 children.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople feel lost, they\u2019ve no sense of belonging,\u201d Mr Carroll said.<\/p>\n
Depaul CEO David Carroll: ‘We cannot sleepwalk into accepting homelessness figures as the new normal.’ File picture<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going to be able to put roots into their communities and there\u2019s a general feeling of hopelessness around the people we\u2019re working with.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said there is \u201ca wider fragility\u201d, adding: \u201cWe cannot sleepwalk into accepting homelessness figures as the new normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mental strain on people in temporary accommodation is being underestimated, he warned.<\/p>\n
Last year, 1,361 people reported mental health concerns or support needs, nearly twice the previous year. The teams responded to 273 incidents of suicidal ideation and 129 incidents of self-harm.<\/p>\n
It now offers a \u201cmindset programme\u201d with therapy and recovery planning. Staff offered a record 75,254 individual sessions last year.<\/p>\n
A separate project called Housing First offers intensive help to people with complex mental health and addiction needs. This supported 169 people to keep rental tenancies going.<\/p>\n
The charity also helped 914 households find a home.<\/p>\n
Mr Carroll said: \u201cWhen you put in the interventions, the proof of the pudding is we can get people out [of homelessness] despite the housing supply shortage.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Bianca, aged 34, who asked not to use her surname, said that supports changed her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cDepaul made me believe in myself,\u201d she said. \u201cThey helped me to push myself harder, to believe I can live a normal life.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a few weeks she moves into an apartment with her 16-month-old daughter and teenage son.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in a lot better place now, a lot better, thank God. I want to live,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing homeless, you\u2019re learning a whole new life of survival, basically you\u2019re just surviving.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re hopeless, I would have been suicidal at the end. Your hope is gone, I was dead from the inside out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bianca struggled with substance abuse previously and her son had lived apart from her for some years.<\/p>\n
She is taking addiction studies classes, with the intention of working in social support services. She confidently predicted she will be working with Depaul in a few years, a comment supported by staff in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I\u2019d tell anybody is never stop asking for help, somebody will listen,\u201d she said. \u201cIt might take years but somebody will listen at some stage.<\/p>\n
She advised anyone struggling: \u201cJust keep asking for help, even if you feel like you\u2019re getting nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n