A 10-year-old Belfast boy has shared his own story of what it is like living in a hostel during the cororavirus pandemic.
Dylan Whelan is one of 20 children living in emergency accommodation and direct provision who have written moving accounts of life during the Covid-19 crisis for a new book series.
Homeless Stories is a collection of personal narratives from young people, aged five to 13, experiencing or at risk of homelessness, which is being sold to raise money for Depaul.
Dylan has been living in a Belfast hostel with his mum Rachel (28) and his sister Leah (one) for more than a year. They still have no idea when they will be housed.
He described how it feels to be homeless in a pandemic.
"At first, I felt sad and angry - and then bored because I can't play outside, we don't have anywhere to play outside, and I didn't want to stay here," said Dylan.
"I have two wishes - for coronavirus be gone and for us to have a new house. I want to be close to my friends so I can play with them."
His mum Rachel said the writing experience had been a "positive one for him in a very difficult time".
"Dylan tends to keep his feelings to himself, so when I try to ask him how he feels he just asks why I am asking so many questions," she said.
"With the book though, he really loved writing.
"He is very creative and suddenly he was opening up - that really helped me to understand how he felt. It helped us both in different ways."
Emer Cleary of Emu Ink, which published the book, said: "It is so important to give children like Dylan a voice this year because families like his have had a very different experience to the rest of us.
"I’m sure many of us are growing tired of staying at home but for these children, a home to stay in is all they want - a front door, a back garden to play in, a kitchen to bake in like their friends.
"At Emu Ink, we’re firm believers in giving children the opportunity and the tools to tell their own stories in their own words.
"By becoming published authors, children can learn that their stories are important, their words are impactful, and they don’t have to wait until they grow up to be heard."
Proceeds from the book go to Depaul, which provides vital accommodation and community support for vulnerable families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
David Carroll from Depaul said they had been supporting over 600 children during the pandemic.
"To have 20 of those children become published authors thanks to Emu Ink, that feels like an enormous positive we can take from this difficult time," he said.
"It is a moving and poignant read, but it is also filled with hope that one day they will have a safe place to call home, because for families living in emergency accommodation and direct provision they are going through very difficult times and the pandemic has only added to this."
Homeless Stories is on sale at www.emucourses.ie.
