Community Activist Lorraine contributes to UNANIMA “Hidden Faces of Homelessness” publication
My name is Lorraine Kelly and I am part of ATD Ireland.
Growing up in Dublin city centre coming from a run down area- I have not only seen socioeconomic discrimination but I have felt it. In schools, in workplaces we even are constantly run down by our own government..I grew up where mothers and fathers had to work just to provide a home for their family.
Times have changed but the world remains the same. Poverty and homelessness never left and there are more homeless in Ireland than there are homes ..I’ve seen people in jobs being treated less than because of the way they speak, the area they come from, or a family name. I’ve seen family fighting, stressing depressing and also suicide because we are made to feel like there is no hope for us compared to the rich family who never knew what poverty even felt like. There are many talented, smart people in Ireland but if you’re from a run down, not so well off area, you are judged before you are even seen. Even in hospitals, if you have a medical card you don’t have to pay so you will be treated normal compared to those who pay or go private. If you go into A&E you could be waiting longer than those who are paying themselves..even in your local GP you are rushed in, rushed out. But for those who pay they take their time and give proper care. They are well taken care of because all that seems to matter to our government is money..we have the money to make change but the lack of effort from our government makes it harder for us to escape socioeconomic discrimination.
I’m 35 years old an I’m a mother of two and the pressure as a mother trying to provide- even down to clothes -because we want our children to not feel this poverty and discrimination. I pray my children or anyone’s children don’t have to face these brick walls in time to come but I will continue to break them walls down even if it take one brick at a time we will still climb ..
At ATD Ireland, we speak to practicing social workers and students in university through our poverty aware practice class. This class is about ensuring that future and current social workers understand what it is really like living in poverty. It is about creating a good, constructive relationship together and making sure families are given genuine support.
ATD Ireland and other organisations have been working on the #Addthe10th campaign to recognise socio- economic discrimination. This is so that we can feel protected in our equality law.
Thank you to Lorraine for her ongoing work with ATD Ireland, and for always using her voice to advocate for others experiencing poverty and discrimination. Find more information including films, and reports about socio- economic discrimination on our new #Addthe10th resource page here.
Thank you to UNANIMA for asking Lorraine to contribute to their ‘Hidden Faces of Publication’ 2024. Read more about UNANIMA here.
