Pregnant Women and Families

Pregnant women and families experiencing homelessness are extremely vulnerable. Homelessness can inflict significant trauma on children and may put pregnant women and their fetuses at higher risk for major complications. For the purposes of this module, families may represent a single parent, two-parent, or multi-generational unit. That said, according to national PIT count data collected in 2017, over 50% of families are households of two or three people, with 75% of families experiencing homelessness led by women. Families represent 33% of all people experiencing homelessness on a given night.

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Pregnancy rates for women experiencing homelessness are significantly higher than women who are housed. In one study, almost half of the sexually active young women experiencing homelessness (N=222) were pregnant at baseline, and nearly 70% experienced pregnancy by the end of the three-year study. Overwhelmingly, studies have shown that mothers were less likely to be insured and less likely to have access to prenatal care and well visits.

There are several possible explanations for the high pregnancy rates in this population, though the most commonly cited explanation is limited access to highly effective contraceptives. As it stands, the stress of homelessness affects both mother and child in measurable ways. Adverse birth outcomes for women who are homeless, such as preterm births and low birth weights, exceed national averages. Access to free or low cost contraceptives, prenatal care, and well-woman visits would likely positively impact both rates of unintended pregnancy and reduce adverse birth outcomes for women.

Video: Pregnant while Homeless

Interpersonal violence in the home is a primary driver for homelessness among women, however, each individual’s experience is unique and there are many other possible causes. Childhood neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse are common factors for many single mothers. Other factors can include grief due to the loss of their partner or children, financial exploitation, or divorce. For Dawn, homelessness was the result of several complex interacting factors. Take a moment to listen to her story.