Download No Place Like Home resource here - Focus Ireland

Housing Options• Begin by reading Michael’s Story (below) to the children.Michael’s StoryI can’t remember exactly when the rows started at home but by the time I was18 I knew that I couldn’t take any more of the shouting and violence. I had justfinished school, had no job and nowhere to go but the feeling of dread I gotwhen I thought about staying at home was much harder to bear than the fear ofbeing homeless. The morning I left it was pouring rain and I got soakedwandering around the streets trying to figure out where I could go.I thought back to one of the last days in school when someone from FocusIreland had given us a talk in school about the work they do for homeless people– I remember at the time thinking “that will never happen to me”. Little did Iknow! They told us about some of the housing options for people who are out ofhome. All I could think about at that moment was where I was going to sleepthat night. Long-term options would have to wait.• Elicit from the children what Michael’s immediate and more long-term housing options may be.• Divide the class into twelve groups. Give each group a Housing Options card and a HousingDescriptions card from Resource Sheet 4A. Each group must discuss the cards they received andconsider what matching card they may be looking for, before approaching other groups for a suitablematch. Invite each group to read their cards for the rest of the class.• Allow the newly formed groups to stay together to complete Cárta Oibre 4A. Allow plenty of time forfeedback on this activity and try to make a whole class decision on the best short- and long-termhousing options for Michael.• Tabhair amach Cárta Oibre 4B do na leanaí. Bí cinnte go bhuil na focail nua acu roimh tosnú ar angníomhaíocht.49