Homeless Mothers With Young Children

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Homeless Mothers With Young Children


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Homeless Mothers with Young

Children

A growing subgroup of the total homeless

population are single parent, female-

headed families.

These families are thought to make up as

much as 75% of the total homeless

population in some metropolitan areas.

Dail, 1990


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Children


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Information about the Mother

Tend to congregate in in urban settings.

50% of the women heading homeless families

are between the ages of 17 and 25.

Almost equal among racial lines.

Fewer than 10% are married

90% will become welfare-dependent (Aids toFamilies with Dependent Children) as a result

of losing their place of residence.

Dail, 1990


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Information about the mothers

continue

Distrustful of others and reluctant to make

friends.

Feel closest to one of their children ( usually

the oldest one.

25% report having had contact with the

mental health system.

20% ongoing physical illness.

Dail, 1990


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Information about the mothers

continue

A little over 50% have graduated from high

school.

20% report some college-level educational

attainment.

Employment history is sporadic.

75 % Report having been employed at somepoint.

Lack family, social or emotional support.

Dail, 1990


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The Children


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Information about the Children

(These are not exhaustive) Approximately 50% are less than five years of age.

Approximately 13% of the 50% are infants

12% are between 12 and 17 years old.

Tendency toward low birth weight.

Problems related to drugs incurred during the

pregnancy.

Physical, emotional and psychological developmentissues.

And many more

Dail, 1990


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Children


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Reasons for Becoming Homeless

Relationship issues, mainly domestic violence.

Evictions or loss of employment, however it is usually

precipitated by a series of conditions.

Major disruptions early in their original family life (violence,absent parent, parental death, mental illness, etc.) that

diminished the childhood experience and contributes to a

lifestyle in which social isolation is common and extending

family support is lacking.

The needed interpersonal skills to function well in social

settings were never developed.

Dail, 1990


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Reasons for Becoming Homeless

continue

Mental Health and drug abuse

A pattern of housing mobility or the

tendency to move from place to placebecause of some combination of

personal crisis, eviction job loss,

uninhabitable dwellings.

Dail, 1990


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Children

Homelessness presents some problems that

are unique and among the most difficult to

overcome.


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Homeless mothers with Young

Children

Many mothers have never established

themselves as functional, self sufficient,

autonomous adults, due in part to having

been socialized in a cycle of poverty

themselves.


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Homeless mothers with Young

Children

Most have a long history of interpersonal and

economic problems as well as distinct patterns

of residential instability.


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How Can We Help


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Education and Employment

Education is the primary method individuals can

build skills and credentials they need to become

successful contributing adults in the workplace.

Ammerman, Ensign, Kirzner , Meininger, Tornabene, Warf, Zerger, Post, 2004.


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Housing

More affordable housing young adults face special

barriers obtaining and maintaining residential

stability, especially those who lack the support of

family for whatever reason.



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Social Support

When faced with a crisis, many adults have a well-

developed network of family and friends who can

offer a short-term place to stay, food or even

financial support; however, this population does nothave that option.



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References

Ammerman SD, Ensign J, Kirzner R, Meininger ET, Tornabene M,

Warf CW, Zerger S, Post P. Homeless Young Adults Ages 18

24: Examining Service Delivery Adaptations, 50 pages.

Nashville: National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc.,

2004. National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc. P.O.

Dail, P. W. (1990). The Psychosocial Context of Homeless Mothers

with Young Children: Program and Policy Implications. (Cover

story). Child Welfare, 69(4), 291-308. Retrieved from

EBSCOhost.

Documents

Homeless Mothers With Young Children