b'Seen El Roi, The God who sees (Genesis 16:13)Single Mother A single mom named Hagar was alone, scared, and out of options when anHomelessness in Americaangel approached and engaged her in conversation. He asked about her storyBeing the sole parent can mean tough businessand plan for the future. Hagar didnt know where she was going, simply the pain from which she was leaving. AfterSingle motherhood can easily take a turn for the worse for those listening, the angel provided counselwho earn povertylevel wages or are victims of domestic abuse. and hope. Deeply encouraged, Hagarwww.greendoors.org reported on research that the United States has exclaimed that she had been seen! Shemore women and children experiencing homelessness than any other industrialized country.felt Gods care for her. Homeless families comprise roughly 34 percent of the total U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau reportshomeless population. that over eight million households in84 percent of families experiencing homelessness are femalethe U.S. today are led by single moms.headed. The majority of these families experi- 53 percent of homeless mothers do not have a high school diploma. ence profound financial, emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges withOver 92 percent of homeless mothers have experienced severe potential lifelong and generationalphysical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime. negative impacts. Whether in a churchTheres also no denying the relationship between pew, grocery-store line, or the after- domestic violence and homelessness for women. school pickup line, most single momsBetween 22 and 57 percent of all homeless feel a strong stigma attached to them.women report that domestic violence wasWhether divorced, never-married, orthe immediate cause of their homelessness. widowed, many are initially reluctantAdditionally, 38 percent of all victims of to label themselves as single moms,domestic violence become homeless at some point in their lives. A victim of much less advertise what needs theydomestic violence will often leave have. Sadly, many feel alone andan abuser multiple times before unseen, quietly suffering under thefinally escaping the violence, enormous weight of leading their fami- therefore experiencing multiple lies with limited support. periods of homelessness. When a single mom comes to Source: Domestic us for help, how we welcome her isViolence, Housing, pivotal because first impressions areand Homelessness, critical. In less than seven seconds, National Network to our first encounter can set the toneEnd Domestic Violenceof a relationship. In our world, new clients make quick determinations \x02 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 43'