In the second half of the conversation, Sarah and Melissashift from the personal stories to the systemic solutions. They explore the remarkable resilience of lone‑parent families, the glaring gaps in Ireland’s homelessness strategy, and concreterecommendations, from ring‑fencing social housing to trauma‑informed court practices, that could break the cycle of chronic homelessness.

In this episode of Master My Balance host, Melissa, is joined by Dr Sarah Sheridan, an independent researcher, to discuss her recent Focus Ireland report; Lone Parents and Homelessness in Ireland.

Lone parents make up the majority of homeless families in Ireland, but the reasons go far beyond individual choices. Together, Melissa and Sarah unpack the scale of lone parenthomelessness, how it is measured, and what every day financial life looks like for families living with housing insecurity.

The conversation explores poverty before homelessness, pathways into housing loss, childcare barriers, and the constant trade-offs lone parents are forced to make just to get by, highlighting the structural pressures that shape these experiences.

What you’ll learn:

• Who is counted in Irish homelessness statistics and why the official monthly figures miss many vulnerable families.

• The financial realities of lone parents – from welfare‑benefit cliffs and HAP top‑ups to skyrocketing childcare costs.

• How poverty traps and benefit‑income thresholds keep families “stuck”.

• The role of child‑maintenance, the recent reforms, and the stress of family‑court processes.

• Real‑world barriers: childcare access, activation measures, and the stigma that shapes service interactions.

Key take‑aways for anyone interested in financial literacy and well‑being:

• Financial insecurity often predates homelessness, not the other way round.

• “Financial management” isn’t the issue; the lack of adequate income is.

• Effective financial‑well‑being programs must consider benefit‑design, childcare, housing stability, and personal strengths together.

📄 Key Resource Mentioned

Full Report: Lone Parents and Homelessness in Ireland https://www.focusireland.ie/knowledge-hub/research/

🔔Author of Report, Sarah Sheridan, contact details

ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Sheridan-2

Contact email: Sarahsheridanresearch@gmail.com

#LoneParents #Homelessness #IrelandHousing #FocusIreland #SocialWelfare #Childcare #HousingPolicy #PovertyTrap #MasterMyBalance

In **Part 2** we continue the conversation with Áine, focusingon the emotional side of money, the impact of losing work identity, and how the **Work & Access Scheme** can fund workplace assessments and neuro‑inclusion training.

✅ What you’ll learn

* When work identity falls away, financial stress spikes –recognise the emotional cues.

* Low self‑esteem often triggers impulse‑spending as a short‑term mood‑boost.

* “Pause‑before‑spend” rules, budget alerts and automatedspending caps break the impulse loop.

* Neuro‑divergent brain wiring (ADHD, dyspraxia, autism) canamplify spending triggers, tailored OT strategies help.

* The **Work & Access Scheme** (launched July 2024) provides up to **€20 000** for employer‑funded neuro‑inclusion training and OT workplace assessments – any size business can apply.

🕒 Chapter markers

19:04 – Personal story: loss of work identity & financial fallout

20:30 – Why low self‑esteem fuels emotional spending

22:45 – The vicious cycle: anxiety → impulse buying →financial stress

25:10 – Neuro‑divergent wiring & spending triggers(ADHD, dyspraxia, autism)

28:00 – Practical coping tools (budget alerts, “pause”rules, apps)

30:40 – Overview of the Work & Access Scheme (launchJuly 2024)

31:55 – Funding details: up to €20 k for neuro‑inclusion training & assessments

34:20 – Employee → OT assessment → reasonable accommodations → funding flow

36:45 – Áine’s coaching for professionals, self‑employed& SMB owners

38:30 – Embedding financial literacy in everyday life &early‑year interventions

40:00 – How to contact Áine

💬 Connect with Áine

• Áine’s website: https://www.radianceconsultinghub.com

• Coaching & assessment contact page: https://www.radianceconsultinghub.com/contact

🔔 Subscribe for more Master My Balance episodes:

▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/mastermybalance

👍 If the strategies helped you, give this video a LIKE, SHARE it with anyone who could benefit, and let us know in the comments which tool you’ll try first!

#FinancialWellBeing #WorkAccessScheme #NeuroInclusion #MasterMyBalance #OT #Financialliteracy