Case Study: Patricia and Michael’s Story

Patricia and Michael have five children ranging in age from two months to twelve years. Michael lost his job in July 2008 and the family has been struggling to pay their bills and mortgage repayments and to make ends meet ever since. Michael called the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in December 2008 to ask for help. The family’s gas had been cut off due to non-payment of the bill and the ESB had just called to tell them that their electricity was about to be cut off. Patricia and Michael’s five children had been without proper heating for a number of months before their father called and asked the St. Vincent de Paul for help. The response from the Society was to visit the family and intervene with ESB on their behalf to ensure that their electricity would not be cut off and to assist them in getting their gas reconnected.

Patricia and Michael’s story is not unusual. St. Vincent de Paul are receiving increasing numbers of phone calls from families struggling with the cost of fuel, gas and electricity.

There are steps that the Government can take to ensure that children have access to basic healthcare and have an adequate income on which to live.