Rachel’s Story

She left home at 17 after her relationship with her mother broke down. In the years that followed, she couch surfed, stayed with friends and moved in and out of shared accommodation. Rachel had no stability or security. At such a young age, sadly, she lost hope for her future.

When Rachel found out she was pregnant, her situation became even more uncertain. Her landlord told her he didn’t want children living in his flat, forcing Rachel to leave.

Six months later, heavily pregnant and still working full-time, she was moving from place to place. Most days, she carried everything she owned with her because she didn’t know where she would be sleeping that night.

One evening, the person she had arranged to stay with stopped answering her calls and messages. With nowhere else to turn, Rachel reached out to Galway Simon Community for support. Rachel met Brenda, who was there to guide her through the housing system, helping with calls and emails and advocating on her behalf. For Rachel, knowing she had someone in her corner made a real difference.

After her son Tadhg was born, Rachel spent his first few weeks staying with a friend and living out of bags.

With Brenda by her side as she continued to navigate the housing system, Rachel eventually secured a flat for herself and Tadhg. After years of uncertainty, having a safe and secure place of their own meant they could finally begin to settle.

As Tadhg’s first Christmas drew near, Rachel recalled how sad the season made her feel. Growing up, there had been no tree or decorations in her home. She remembers spending Christmas with her older brother, watching television on their own.

She wanted something different for Tadhg.

So, for the first time, Rachel put up her own Christmas tree.

She watched Tadhg discover the lights and decorations. It was an ordinary family moment, but for Rachel, it represented how much had changed. Just one year earlier, she had been pregnant, facing homelessness and unsure where she would sleep. Now, she and her son had somewhere safe to call home.

Rachel knows there are other families facing the same fear and uncertainty she experienced. For her, the support she received was not simply about having a roof over her head. It was knowing that she and her son were not facing everything alone.

With the support of people across the West, Galway Simon Community can continue to be there for families facing homelessness and help them find the safety and stability they need to move forward.

Please donate today and help another family like Rachel’s find a safe and stable place to call home.

We’ve used the name ‘Rachel’ to protect the identity of the person featured. Her words and her story are entirely true.