Homeless Laois dad has 'no choice' bu to sleep in tent

A homeless Laois dad insists that he has had no choice but the sleep in tents and couch surf and is annoyed with comments made at a Laois County Council meeting that rough sleeping happens only by choice in Laois.

Keith Carton, aged 41, is a separated father of a boy with autism. He became homeless in 2024 when his relationship broke down and now insists he has no choice but to sleep in tents at locations in Portlarington and Portlaoise.

He has custody of his child three days a week. On those days, he can stay with friends but must sleep on the couch. He claims that the only accommodation provided to him by Laois County Council was in Cashel, Co Tipperary.

He stayed there on two separate occasions. He claims that he had to leave in January 2024 because he had not occupied his room for three consecutive nights over Christmas, when he said he was in Laois visiting his son, who used to stay with him in Cashel.

“When I went back, there was a woman with my baby in my room,” he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The second time was during Storm Éowyn when the council provided emergency accommodation to anyone without a home. On this occasion, he says he was assaulted by people who were drinking.

Mr Carton says that since then, there has been no help from the council other than a return to Cashel, but he says he is afraid to go back. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

He was also told he cannot return because he would not be allowed to have his child at the accommodation.

He is entitled to HAP, but he says he has received hundreds of refusals because he needs a house where his child can stay with him three days a week.

He says the council will not help him find a place to live through the HAP system.

He says has stayed in tents in Corrig Wood, Port and the People's Park in Portlaoise before being moved Cashel and again since.

“I have no accommodation. I sleep in the tent or on rainy nights, I stay with my friend on a couch. If he has family staying, I cannot stay with him,” he said.

He is adamant that Laois County Council approved him for social housing six months ago.

“The council sent me a letter saying that, having assessed me, I am entitled to a two-bed house for me and my child,” he said.
He said he has been in tears, begging the council's housing department for help in person. On one occasion, he says he was advised to attend Portlaoise hospital.

READ ALSO: Laois pub could become hostel

“I think I've had two or three breakdowns because of this...I'm like this because no matter where I turn, I can't get help,” he said.

He says he has never been evicted from council housing in Laois. While he says he has experienced some mental health issues, he insists he does not have any drink or substance abuse problems.

Mr Carton says he has contact Brian Stanley TD, who he says is trying to help.

He decided to go public with his experience in Laois after reading comments made at a Laois County Council meeting as reported by the Leinster Express / Laois Live where it was stated that anyone on the streets on Laois is there by choice.

“It really made my blood boil. They are trying to say they are helpful when they really are not,” he said.

READ ALSO: Rough sleeping 'a choice' in Laois

During the meeting Fine Gael's Cllr Barry Walsh praised the councils work no homelessness.

"In general we're doing a great job, you don't see any evidence of people on the street," he said.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paschal McEvoy says Laois people make a choice if they sleep on the street.

"In fairness we all come across situations where people have to move, but once they come to the homeless section they are dealt with quickly. You never see anyone on the street in Laois. If you do, it's by choice. They are given every opportunity to get off the street," he claimed.

Laois spent the second lowest out of the four counties on homelessness accommodation, at €894,000 in 2024. The council does not have a homeless hostel or shelter.

Councillors approved a homeless elimination plan at their meeting.