Full Breakdown
Rising Homelessness Among Single Mothers in England
2/12/2026, 3:40:54 AM
The Growing Crisis of Temporary Accommodation
Recent research from the housing charity Shelter highlights a significant increase in homelessness among single mothers in England, revealing that women now comprise approximately 60 percent of adults in temporary accommodation. This figure has risen by 31 percent over the past five years, amounting to around 80,000 women among the roughly 130,000 households in such situations. Notably, single mothers represent a third (33 percent) of all individuals in temporary accommodation, despite constituting only about 2 percent of the UK population. This alarming trend underscores the disproportionate impact of the housing crisis on women, particularly single mothers.
Katie, a single mother from East London, exemplifies the struggles faced by many in this demographic. After leaving an abusive relationship in late 2024, she was unable to afford her previous flat and received a Section 21 eviction notice. Following her plea for assistance, she was relocated to a hotel deemed "highly unsuitable," where she and her four-year-old child lived in a cramped, run-down room. After legal intervention, she was eventually moved to a small two-bedroom flat, which she described as essentially one room divided into parts.
Factors Contributing to the Crisis
The rising rates of homelessness among single mothers can be attributed to several factors, primarily the lack of affordable housing in the private rental market. Research by the Women’s Budget Group indicates that average rents in England now consume 58 percent of the average woman's salary, compared to 42 percent for men. This disparity, coupled with the financial burdens of raising children—89 percent of single-parent families are led by women—has made it increasingly difficult for single mothers to secure stable housing.
Labour MP Stella Creasy emphasized the need for systemic change, stating, “With a million women stuck on benefits because of caring commitments, it’s not a shock to me that many find themselves stuck in a nightmare of poor housing and debt.” She advocates for an overhaul of welfare and childcare policies to address the discrimination faced by women in housing.
Official Responses and Future Actions
Shelter's chief executive, Sarah Elliott, criticized the government's decision to freeze local housing allowance (LHA), which limits the housing benefit available to families. She argued that this policy exacerbates the housing crisis, leaving single mothers to shoulder the burden of homelessness. Elliott called for urgent action, urging the government to unfreeze LHA to cover at least the bottom third of local rents.
In response, a government spokesperson acknowledged the unacceptable situation faced by many women and outlined plans to invest £3.5 billion to tackle homelessness, alongside £950 million for improving temporary accommodation and a commitment to build 1.5 million homes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Women are affected by the housing crisis more than any other demographic,” — Katie, Single Mother
- “No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between paying rent, feeding their family or turning on the heating - yet this is the reality for many single mothers across England today. Instead of being supported to stay in their homes, too many are being pushed towards homelessness, where they can spend years trapped in damaging temporary accommodation, unable to afford to move on and into private rentals.” — Stella Creasy, Labour MP
- “Ms Elliot said: “It is totally unacceptable that, as the housing emergency escalates, a growing number of single mothers are homeless in temporary accommodation.” — Sarah Elliott, Chief Executive of Shelter
The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms to support single mothers and address the broader housing emergency in England.
