Single mothers and their children are disproportionately affected by rising homelessness in England, according to charity Shelter. Analysis of government figures reveals that one in every 55 single-parent families became homeless in 2017-18, with single mothers accounting for 92% of the 26,610 cases.
Shelter's chief executive Polly Neate described the situation as 'simply not right', highlighting the challenges of balancing work and childcare alongside unaffordable private rents and a shortage of social housing. The charity's findings show that single parents are eight times more likely to become homeless than couples with children.
Homelessness has increased by 169% in England since 2010, according to the charity Crisis. The legal definition includes rough sleepers, those in hostels, and people in temporary accommodation. Shelter is urging the government to build more social homes and ensure housing benefit covers private rents.
One affected mother, Karen Nel, told the BBC that homelessness drove her to take an overdose. She described receiving 'hundreds and hundreds' of rejection letters from landlords due to being on housing benefit, and said the flat offered by the council had rising damp and concrete floors.
Tayla Turton, a 21-year-old student teacher with a two-year-old daughter, recounted being asked to leave temporary accommodation with just a day's notice. She now shares a house with strangers, which she finds terrifying, and feels treated as 'just a number'.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that no family should be without a roof, and councils must provide accommodation for homeless single parents. It highlighted spending of over £1.2bn to prevent homelessness and the Homelessness Reduction Act as key measures.
