According to their website, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) supports the Department’s efforts to help create cohesive, economically healthy communities.
PD&R is responsible for maintaining current information on housing needs, market conditions, and existing programs, as well as conducting research on priority housing and community development issues. The office provides reliable and objective data, as well as analysis to help inform policy decisions. PD&R is committed to involving a greater diversity of perspectives, methods, and researchers in HUD research. Their website can become a resource in regard to assistance for homeless single mothers.
In 1978, PD&R established HUD USER an information source for housing and community development researchers, academics, policymakers and the American public. This portal is the main source for federal government reports and information on housing policy and programs, economic development and other housing-related topics.
Statistical trends in homelessness
The following information is extracted from their website, and outlines the situation regarding children of homeless clients and sheds light on various matters which may provide awareness, ideas and assistance for homeless single mothers.
Percentiles outlining trends in single parent homelessness include;
- Among homeless women, 60 % have children under age 18 but only 65 % live with at least one of these children.
- In the case of homeless men, 41 % have children under age 18, but only 7 % of these fathers live with at least one of their own children.
- From the child’s perspective, 28 % of minor children of homeless parents live with that parent, while 72 % do not.
These show a dire need for assistance for homeless single mothers, further underpinned by the following;
- On average, homeless families have two children.
- 15 % of homeless clients are heads of homeless families
- 15 % of homeless households contain a client and at least one minor child – which is a common definition of “family” as used in the context of homelessness research.
In regard to assistance for homeless single mothers and related statistics, the organization’s services show that children in homeless families using services are fairly evenly divided between 53 % males and 47% females. They are between 0 to 5 years compared to all U.S. and parents report that almost half aged 3 to 5 attend preschool. In addition, up to 93 % of school-age children 6-17 attend school regularly.
Homeless clients appear similarly distributed among racial/ethnic groups because of the fact that that children’s race/ethnicity hails from that of their parents. NSHAPC parents’ reports of their children’s school attendance can be compared with data about school enrollment of U.S. kids where 45% 3- to 5 yrs olds accompanying homeless NSHAPC clients are reported to be attending preschool. This shows the vast need and potentials to provide assistance for homeless single mothers.
Non homeless children in poor U.S. households receive similar government benefits to homeless children. 70% of children in homeless families receive food stamps not much difference from the 66 percent of poor U.S. children who do. Additionally, the proportion of both groups covered by Medicaid do not differ by much either : 73 % homeless and 69% poor U.S. children.
Assistance for homeless single mothers can also be formulated based on statistics which compare homeless to poor children. About 51% of homeless children live in families receiving AFDC with 12 % living in families receiving SSI. In combining homeless children with their homeless parent and with single homeless clients it shows that all homeless service users include considerably more males than the overall American poverty population. They are less likely to be or Hispanic and more likely to be black. They are also less likely to be children being of the age 55 and older.
Of note when looking at statistics that could provide assistance for homeless single mothers in respect to children of homeless clients, is the question of where children are when they are not with their homeless parent. Research shows that if the homeless client is male his children are more likely to live with their mother however conversely, 23 percent of female homeless clients children live with their father. The woman’s parents or relatives are most likely to be caring for her children if they are not with and about one-fifth are in foster care or group homes.
Government housing assistance programmes
The need for assistance for homeless single mothers is more pressing, as recent evidence confirms that homelessness among families is increasing. Causes include poverty and the lack of affordable housing. Declining wages and changes in welfare programs also account for increasing poverty and have put housing out of reach for many families. The largest cash assistance program for poor families with children was the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.
Later, with the Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the federal welfare reform law) having repealed the AFDC program it was replaced with a block grant program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
Studies show that assistance for homeless single mothers is also required in cases where domestic violence contributes to homelessness. When a woman leaves an abusive relationship more often than not she has nowhere to go. Lack of affordable housing and long waiting lists for assisted housing mean that many women are forced to choose between either or the streets.
According to Homes for the Homeless, in a study of 777 homeless parents of whom the majority were mothers conducted in ten U.S. cities, 22% said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic violence.
Reasons for homelessness
A Fact Sheet #12 published by the National Coalition for the Homeless in 2007, reports on homelessness being a devastating experience for families. Every aspect of family life is disrupted, damaging the physical and emotional health of all involved and interfering with children’s education and development. Further factors influencing the need to provide assistance for homeless single mothers include;
- Families with children are one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population;
- 98,452 homeless families make up 41% of the entire homeless population with families, single mothers, and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless in rural areas.
- Approximately 924,000 children are homeless.
- In 1995, 4.2% of children under the age of one year were homeless
- Homeless families are most commonly headed by single mothers in their late 20s with approximately two children.
- Requests for housing assistance for homeless single mothers and low income families and individuals increased in 86 percent.
- The average number of emergency shelter beds for homeless families with children increased by 8% in 2005 whilst an average of 32% of requests for shelter by homeless families were denied in 2005 due to lack of resources.
- The percentage of poor people has risen from 11.3% of the population in 2000 to 12.1% in 2002.
- The number of poor people decreased every year between 1993 and 2000, in recent years but by 2004 the number of poor people grew by 4.3 million from 2000.
- The 2004 poverty rate of 17.8% for children under 18 years old is significantly higher than the poverty rate for any other age group.
Resources of assistance for homeless single mothers
The Task Force on the Homeless is a non-profit coalition of public and private service providers, community organizations, religious congregations, businesses, and individuals working to end homelessness in Sonoma County through Advocacy, Resource Development, Community Education, and Collaborative Program Development.
The mission of the Sonoma County Task Force on the Homeless is a catalyst and leadership resource bringing the community together to promote affordable housing, prevent homelessness and assist people who are homeless. Their goals include changing community attitudes to make homelessness acceptable in Sonoma County. They also endeavour to initiate, support, and participate in alliances and cooperative programs and resource development activities among those serving, funding and advocating for homeless people, leading to adequate, effective, and integrated service delivery.
Aside providing assistance for homeless single mothers and fathers, they work to ensure that the components of the homeless shelter and service system address the greatest needs throughout the County, including in rural areas. The Task Force also identifies and promotes solutions to chronic homelessness, such as affordable permanent supportive housing, a court protocol for the homeless, integrated delivery of health, mental health, and substance abuse services, etc.. They actively advocate for policy at all levels of government to facilitate ending homelessness and encourage community participation.
The following non profit organizations and shelters provide assistance for homeless single mothers;
- Samaritan House: NPO providing shelter, free food, clothing, health care and counseling services Carpenters’ Shelter: Assisting the needy to get back on the track to self reliance
- La Puente: NPO that gives emergency shelter, job training and food assistance
- St. Matthews Soup Kitchen & Homeless Shelter: Provides meals
- Bay Area rescue: Emergency services are offered to women with children
- Open Door Mission: Offer food and clothing as well as shelter
- Siena Francis: For men and women.