Women in (Housing) Crisis

Every June the National Safety Council recognizes National Safety Month, an important time to reflect on housing and employment insecurities facing millions of Americans. These issues disproportionately affect populations of women and young children throughout the country, a statistic we see reflected everyday in the needs of Uplift’s grant recipients. 

Six out of every ten Uplift applicants are unhoused, experiencing homelessness, or facing eviction. And according to a study from the Lotus House and Sundari Foundation, women and children are the fastest growing population to endure homelessness in the United States. There are many factors that contribute to this statistic, but a severe lack of affordable housing and the threat of domestic violence greatly further this issue. 

At Uplift, we’re steadfast in the belief that a safe place to live and grow can significantly protect the needs of women and children facing crisis. The National Coalition for the Homeless attests that experiencing homelessness will severely affect the emotional and physical well-being of those affected, particularly in young children. Those facing housing insecurity will have a higher chance of developing mental health problems, and are four times as likely to experience delayed development. 

The constant cycle of varying adversities our applicants face, continues to drive our work in uplifting them. Over 90% of homeless women have experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime. And a quarter of the unhoused children in the United States have witnessed violence in a lifetime. In these cases, abusers often take advantage of economic instability and threaten the ability to find safe housing. We must find a way to halt this cycle. The gift of receiving a grant can aid in lifting them out of these challenges. 

Despite the severity of these facts, there are very few resources for women and families experiencing the housing crisis. The need for housing assistance far outweighs the capabilities of many shelters and organizations that can help. The American Bar Association estimates it can take an unhoused family up to six to ten months to secure a safe home. And while there are many federal programs such as Section 8 Housing and low-income tax credit opportunities, they face devastating budget cuts. 

While it’s National Safety Month, it’s crucial to recognize that safety comes in many forms, and a safe place to call home is just the beginning. The importance of affordable and low-income housing throughout our country can literally transform the lives of women and children in crisis. At Uplift, we hear it every day in applicant testimonies. Whether it’s a month’s worth of rent or the cost of a housing application fee, these simple requests can safeguard our grant recipients from the many insecurities of homelessness. 

Uplift recently provided financial independence for a mother and son to flee their abuser and rent a small apartment. Our grant recipient had attempted to leave for months but lacked the economic stability to escape. In a letter she shared with our team, Uplift’s aid helped give her the resources she needed to fully support her son. 

“Uplift met me on the other side of my desperate plea for help,” she said. “They not only gave me the freedom to find a place of my own, but freely delivered God’s embrace to me. She reached out and filled my new place with everything my son and I could need.” 

To help Uplift in continuing to support those facing homelessness or eviction, please visit our website to donate.