'Widowed at age 46, I parent alone.... None of us know when this might happen to them'

One-parent families are much more likely to experience financial hardship and homelessness than other families. They need society's support rather than left to soldier on alone, writes Suzanne Crowe

One-parent families are disproportionately affected by poverty and homelessness. Despite making up 25% of families in Ireland, one-parent families are the majority of families in homelessness. 

Although I am a mother of five, I understand the choice not to have children. 

Widowed at age 46, I parent alone. Setting aside the logistics of school and activities, and the financial stress of being pitched suddenly into a single income, I have found the joy of children tempered a little by not having someone close to share it with. None of us know when this might happen to them.