17-05-2025
Single mum of four young kids fears they will end up ‘on the streets' if she doesn't get help
'I've done all I can...I've phoned everywhere but nowhere will take four kids'
Shona Cox (28) and her children who are aged nine, eight, four and three-years-of-age, have effectively been homeless since before last December.
They had been living in council accommodation in Mullingar but were forced to leave as Shona said it was a 'bad place' for a single mother and they ended up on a coach in her father's home.
They were then staying in a B&B and when they had to leave there they went to the council offices in Mullingar at the end of March 'as a last resort'.
"I sat in the council office from 9.30am to 5.30pm that day, but they would not do anything to help me,' she claimed.
At the start of April Shona was given the use of a holiday home through the help of a care worker but has to vacate the property on Monday as it is booked.
Shona says she took this picture of the children outside the council offices in Mullingar
'I've asked the council to help me in any way possible, but I'm getting nowhere,' she added.
'When I went to the office two weeks ago, I was in tears, but they wouldn't even speak to me.
"I just think this really needs to be addressed.'
Shona said her youngest child has a serious disability and is partially paralysed, meaning he doesn't have the use of the left side of his body and requires physiotherapy.
'My youngest fella, with the disability, his physio (treatment) was affected, sleeping on a couch. Read more
'His physio was saying it me, 'Shona, he's not moving; he's not doing a much as he should be'. So everything is affected by this.
'I've done all I can,' she added. 'I phoned everywhere but nowhere will take four kids.
"We're living out of bags, it's ridiculous.
'I really feel the council should be doing something. I'm actually losing it now. My only resort is to go to the media and make it public because I don't know what more to do for my kids, I really don't.'
Shona Cox with her four young children
News in 90 Seconds - May 17th
Shona also said she wanted to highlight her story for others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
'I want to bring awareness to this as I know there are others, other single mothers, that have literally been though the exact same thing.
'I think it should be highlighted as it's just not right. If it was just me I'd get a sleeping bag and find somewhere to go but I've four young kids, I can't just do that.'
Westmeath County Council has been contacted for comment.
