What We Need to Know About Single Moms and Homelessness
It’s a subject dear to my heart, and one that I’ve explored in previous blogs: Now, as I’m exploring new ways to make a difference in this area, I want to shed more light on a subject many people might not think about: Single moms and homelessness.
Here’s the situation. It’s been reported there are 10 million single mother-led families in America, which is three times as many as there were in 1960. In addition, 40% of the babies born in the US are born to single mothers. This increase reflects a sign of the times, as more single women are simply choosing to have babies on their own. In addition, the notion of marriage and parenthood is no longer linked as in decades past.
While many women thrive as single moms, the statistics about the ones who are not thriving are unsettling.
As I shared last month, 4.24 million single mothers live below the poverty line compared to 404,000 single fathers. And, only 39% of single moms receive child support from their children’s fathers.
Single mothers and health
Poverty for single moms is more prevalent in inner cities, where moms also experience higher incidences of violent crime and domestic assault. It’s been found that as single mothers juggle the demands of work and family, they are at increased risk of stress. One report found clear connections between trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and parenting. Maternal depression is associated with a range of negative parenting behavior and constant stress can result in poor physical health. Another report found that single mothers in America were 30% more likely to develop health problems that would interfere with their daily activities.
Dr. Marka Lindholm, founder of Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere, reports that single moms face these additional mental health challenges:
- Sleep deprivation
- Inadequate self-care
- Financial insecurity
- Ongoing conflict with their exes
- Weak support systems
- History of abuse
- Stigma and judgment
Stress and mental health issues can lead to substance abuse and addiction. Combine this with poverty, and you have a recipe for homelessness. While the ingredients are the same for both men and women, the added stressors of single motherhood can ultimately increase women’s risk. And the proof of this is in the numbers.
Women and homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that in America there are 552,830 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, and a little less than 40% of them are women.
Challenges for single mothers add to the bleak picture, involving everything from finding employment and caring for their children while they’re at work, to accessing health care, dealing with mental health issues, and providing for the safety of themselves and their kids out on the streets.
Simply, single moms have increased risk for the factors that can lead to homelessness. And, once homeless, they have a tougher time finding their way out.
Moreover, these numbers likely do not present the full picture. With lack of resources to do accurate counts, it is highly probably that this situation is even worse than we believe.
Awareness is a start
Again, this is an area of focus for me, and through Believe in Big Change, I am exploring ways to identify and structure resources, build collaborations, and work toward tangible solutions to reduce and prevent homelessness of single mothers. In the meantime, I’m spreading the word and raising awareness about what these women are up against. My journey involves recovery, overcoming shame, and learning how to live healthy and thrive. At the same time, it involves helping others do the same.
Single moms represent a vulnerable population, and homelessness is too often a risk. They need our support to not reach that point.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would take a moment to share this blog with others. Strength in numbers!
Thanks for following. Your constructive feedback is welcomed as always.
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Steve Pomeroy is a visionary, homelessness prevention advocate and accomplished entrepreneur and business leader. Steve is the founder and CEO of Believe in Big Change, an online community focused on substance abuse recovery and positive mental health.
Check out his website here or follow him on Facebook.
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