A woman, her children and other refugees fear losing their ‘home’ next week after being told to leave their direct provision centre after nearly six years. 

Maybelle* came to Ireland in 2018 with her three young children and was placed in a direct provision centre in County Cork. 

She has since been granted refugee status but remained in direct provision while searching for alternative accommodation. 

In January, Maybelle’s family and eight others have been told they must leave the centre to free up space for incoming asylum seekers. 

She and her children have to leave next week – and have no idea where they are going next. 

“I have kids and I'm just not sure where we are going – it's really stressful,” she said. 

“Their school is here and I’m also in college myself. 

“Their friends are here, after-school club, everything – this is home, so it’s leaving our home.” 

Refugees 'in competition with an Irish person'

Maybelle said she asked people in the centre several times what their options are, but they have received no response “verbally or in writing”. 

After spending three years so far searching for a place to rent – and now left with one more week to search – Maybelle said they are losing hope. 

One of her main fears is being moved to emergency accommodation in a completely different location, ripping her and her children from their lives in Cork. 

“Because we have our residency now the Government is under no obligation to house us,” she said. 

“The reality is there’s a housing crisis – and you’re in competition with an Irish person. 

“I’m a migrant myself – there's that double obstacle barrier already there, for the landlord to trust you.” 

'Very powerless'

Maybelle said she is now “constantly worried” about having to leave her ‘home’ of six years. 

“I know I have to leave – direct provision is not an ideal home for any child to grow up in,” she said. 

“But to now leave to the unknown is just really stressful. 

“I’m very powerless – I don’t know if I can cope with this.” 

She noted that Cork County Council have been very “supportive” and told her she could reach out to them for official assistance next week. 

According to a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) released last week, almost 6,000 refugees with permission to live and work in Ireland were still in direct provision at the start of 2024. 

European Migration Network member Keire Murphy said this is largely due to specific barriers to finding accommodation as a refugee. 

The report noted language barriers, discrimination from landlords and a lack of information about finding housing have left many refugees stranded. 

Reporting by Jamie O'Hara.

*Name changed to protect anonymity.