The number of single mothers becoming homeless in England is growing at an alarming rate, according to Shelter, a charity which supports people who are facing homelessness.
Even though the government temporarily raised the Universal Credit to help families cope during COVID, homelessness among single mothers kept on rising. Now, the temporary increases are ending. Shelter anticipates that even more single mothers will become homeless as a result.
Research in Canada1 reinforces the findings of the Shelter study. For example, the Canadian survey of women and gender diverse people indicated that “relationship breakdown” was the most frequent reason for becoming homeless. The majority of respondents in the Shelter study identified that living with a partner was essential to avoid homelessness.
Respondents in the Canadian study also reported that they stayed away from emergency shelters because they feared losing custody of their children. Shelter’s research identifies similar concerns.
Read more about the rise in homelessness amongst single mothers in England in The Guardian2: Homelessness disproportionately affects single mothers, research reveals
Footnotes
- Try: New Survey Shines Light On Homelessness And Housing Need In Canada
- The Guardian has been one of the few major world English language publications without a paywall. If not a subscriber, you now may be asked after several reads of different articles to provide an email address, with a promise that it is not a first step to a paywall. Read more on our approach to paywalls here.
