A family has opened up about their struggle to find affordable accommodation – even in rural Ireland.
The family of five have lived in Cavan town for almost 10 years but their landlord has told them if they do not get rid of their dogs, they will have to leave.
Mum-of-three Agnes Szafraniec said getting rid of the pets is simply not an option as they are “part of the family” and that even without the dogs, Agnes says there simply isn’t anything available.
She told the Irish Mirror: “We are in the position where we earn too much to qualify for social housing but do not have enough savings for a mortgage or a loan.
“Even if we did get it, there are no houses available for normal money.
“Before you consider the dogs, there is simply no suitable houses to live.
“We have viewed a few and the affordable ones are either too old, too run-down or just unsuitable for us.
“I drive along the nearby paths in the Cavan area and I look for empty houses, one where nobody lives and it could be easily renovated with a small amount of work.”
Agnes and husband Grzes have three daughters, Gabi, 22, Zuzia, 17, and 13-year-old Tosia.
And Agnes, who works as a receptionist in a dentist’s office, says that the pressure is causing her to live in constant fear.
She added: “We have been living under constant stress for a month, my husband and I that we cannot provide our children with a roof over their heads and our daughters that they will have to say goodbye to their beloved dogs.
“Every car that enters the estate, every doorbell makes my stomach leap to my throat and my heart wants to jump out of my chest. We are afraid that the landlord will come and throw us out.
“The week after we found out, I couldn’t even eat.
“I called all real estate agencies, asked friends, but there is nothing on the market and once we have finally found something, they don’t accept dogs.
“I know there are many more families like mine but we are really running out of options.”
