Empowering women to have a home

Women are increasingly affected by the worsening housing crisis. Last week, government statistics revealed that the number of homeless people has reached a historic high, with 109,000 households now homeless and only able to stay in temporary accommodation. It is clear from these figures that women are particularly severely impacted.

Tens of thousands of homeless women are bearing the role of motherhood.

Single-parent families make up 20% of the population, but they account for 59% of the homeless families in temporary accommodation provided by local councils.

In total, 36,940 women are taking care of their children under extremely harsh conditions. They often live in a room with a small kitchenette, lacking essentials like an oven, a washing machine, and sometimes even a refrigerator.

To better understand what this situation is like, listen to the voices of Sky News and Natasha.

They might sleep in the same bed with their children, trying to soothe them to sleep, and then have to sit quietly in the dark all night to avoid waking them. They may train toddlers to use the toilet in shared bathrooms with strangers, or travel miles on a bus to ensure their children get to school on time. They are separated from the support of friends and family, and often have to move again after just a couple of days.

These women worry about the impact of overcrowded and dangerous living conditions on their children, even checking at night to ensure their kids are still alive. This week, a disheartening report revealed that 55 children, most of them infants, have died unexpectedly in temporary accommodation over the past four years. One in five families report safety hazards such as faulty wiring or fire risks.

In addition to single mothers, a significant proportion of the 21,640 homeless couples also includes women. While they may not be parenting alone, they still face all the challenges of motherhood. More than two-thirds (68%) of these families have experienced homelessness for a year or longer.

They are usually young and timid. They find it very difficult to secure private rental housing, let alone social housing.

Perhaps it's because they have suffered from domestic violence or have disabilities or health issues, so the council has a legal obligation to provide accommodations for these women.

But they might be considered fortunate—though no form of homelessness can truly be described as lucky.

The truly shocking part is those who are homeless and living on the streets.

My regular donations support great women

From providing hot meals and advice to the homeless, to distributing food parcels to struggling families, we always offer help to the vulnerable and never turn our backs. We couldn’t do so much good without the generosity of our supporters. Will you consider donating today?

Money raised will go to help vulnerable people in all areas of our frontline work.