Housing issues of lone parents after separation

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of five female and four male lone parents facing housing issues because of dissolution of marriage or couple relationship, interpreting the participants’ experience in the light of current local housing policy measures and actions. The literature review explored the core concept of housing as a social policy sector both locally and within the European Union, including a view of the history of housing policy in Malta and current local housing policy actions; and looked at the increase in single parent families in Europe and in Malta and the impact that separation has on housing arrangements of lone parents coupled with a discussion on the significant factors that contribute to arising housing issues. Using a constructivist approach, the study employed semi-structured interviews and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. All the participants in the study were in employment, yet all of them cited a reduction in household income after separation and housing unaffordability was highlighted. For the majority of participants, their housing needs were met by their family, with most returning to live with their parents. Their housing situation affected them in diverse ways, particularly in terms of space and privacy. Among those participants who had homeownership in marriage, couple dissolution led to a downward slide on the housing ladder. Moreover, gender differences emerged in the housing trajectories, financial constraints, domesticity and need for social accommodation as expressed by the separated parents in this study. Participants reported that current local housing policy actions do not specifically target the needs of separated lone parents, and through their own experience they explained how existing measures were inadequate in diverse ways. Hence, future housing policy actions must acknowledge the financial conditions of separated parents and the consequent implications on their life experience and must give more consideration to the stressors of rising property and rent prices.