Safe Home
More than just words
“Safe home” is a phrase we use every day. We say it when we part ways with friends, finish a call, or head home after work. But for children in care and young people leaving the care system, “safe home” can have a different meaning.
Across Ireland, too many children in care face instability, and too many young care leavers find themselves without a safe place to call home. This is why EPIC is calling on the government to take action, not just in words but through meaningful, concrete commitments.
From Words to Action: Ensuring Every Child in Care and Every Young Care-Leaver Has a Safe Place to Call Home
A Crisis in Care Means a Responsibility To Act
Everyone deserves a safe home, but for many children in care and young care-leavers this need is not being fully met. A shortage of foster families and residential homes has left some children in unstable and temporary accommodation, impacting their well-being and sense of security.
In 2023, one in five young care-leavers who engaged with EPIC’s National Advocacy Service experienced homelessness, showing the urgent need for better support as they transition to independent living.
The Government of Ireland has a statutory responsibility to care for children who cannot live with their families. When the state steps in, it must act as any reasonable parent would – ensuring safety, well-being, and stability. Ensuring every child in care and every young care-leaver has a safe place to call home should be a fundamental priority in the next programme for government.
Our call to action is clear and focused on achieving long-term, systemic change:
1. Fund and implement a national strategy on alternative care that will:
- Commit to end the use of Special Emergency Arrangements within the lifetime of the government.
- Protect, maintain and build upon our foster care system.
- Rebalance our residential care system in favour of public ownership and end the reliance upon private providers.
- Return Special Care to full capacity and re-establish step-down facilities.
- Establish more robust interagency practice so that children and young people are not at a disadvantage of having experience in care.
- Commence workforce planning on social work, on a governmental level, to gain sufficient numbers in alternative care.
2. Act on care-leaver homelessness
One in five young people who engaged with EPIC’s Advocacy Service in 2023 were experiencing homelessness. We are calling on the government to expand the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for care leavers and provide additional funding to local authorities to acquire 100 new properties for young people transitioning out of care.
When a politician knocks on your door, make your voice heard! Here are some key points to bring up:
1. Start with a personal connection
Explain why this issue matters to you. Maybe you have a background in social work, know someone who has been in care, or simply believe every child deserves a safe home. A personal connection can make your message more powerful.
2. Highlight the key issues
Children in care deserve stability: Share that there is a crisis in care placements, with too many children being placed in emergency, short-term settings. We need more regulated, stable placements like foster care and publicly run residential homes.
Care leavers are at risk: Point out that one in five care leavers engaging with EPIC’s Advocacy Service in 2023 experienced homelessness. This shows a critical need for better housing support.
3. Ask for a commitment
Ask them directly: “Will you commit to ensuring safe and stable homes for children in care and young care-leavers?”
4. Share this campaign
Direct them to EPIC’s website and resources so they can learn more about the campaign and understand the urgent need for these solutions.
Your voice can make a real difference. One of the most powerful ways to influence change is by contacting your local TD or election candidates, urging them to take action on behalf of care-experienced youth.
Below, you’ll find a sample email that you can send or customise.
If you’re unsure of who your TD is or need their contact details, you can find that information here: Contact Your TD
Subject: Ensuring every child in care and every young care-leaver has a safe place to call home
Dear [Politician’s Name],
I am reaching out to ask for your support for a critical issue affecting children and young people in our community – the need for safe, stable homes for children in care and young care-leavers.
As you may know, many children in state care face instability and uncertainty, with too many being placed in short-term emergency arrangements. Additionally, one in five care-leavers engaged with EPIC Empowering People in Care’s National Advocacy Service in 2023 was experiencing homelessness. This situation is unacceptable and demands immediate action.
I urge you to support the following measures:
1. Fund and implement a national strategy on alternative care to address the crisis in available placements, including a roadmap to end the use of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEA’s). Return all special care units to full capacity, and re-establish step-down facilities for children leaving special care.
2. Act on care-leaver homelessness by expanding the Capital Assistance Scheme and acquiring more properties for young care-leavers transitioning to independent living.
These measures would make a real difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. I hope you will consider including them in your election commitments and advocating for them in government.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response and to hearing your commitment to safe homes for children in care and young care-leavers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]