ABSTRACT
The welfare state and the housing policies grafted within it are predicated upon the assumption that the nuclear family of mum, dad and children is the norm, with other groups such as young single people, childless couples, one parent families and old people as formative, transitional and residual stages of the family. The needs of these other groups can only be met if they do not prejudice the position of families (Brailey, 1985). This chapter examines the housing position of women who are homeless and for various reasons are not part of the nuclear family. The core of this chapter is an examination of young women’s homelessness in south-east Northumberland. This overturns the concept that homelessness is only a big city problem and highlights the work of a small voluntary organisation (Housing Aid for Youth) faced with helping young people under 26-a group that central government has targeted in social security and employment policy.
