Mothering Through the Experiences of Homelessness With a Particular Focus on Child Separation in High‐Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Published online on July 05, 2026
Abstract
["Child &Family Social Work, Volume 31, Issue 3, Page 1554-1567, August 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nMothers who experience homelessness represent one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, often facing separation from their children as a consequence of housing instability and intersecting challenges. While there is a substantial body of research on parenting in the context of homelessness, little is known about the experience of child separation while mothering. This scoping review sought to address this gap by asking: What is the breadth of knowledge on child separation while mothering through the experience of homelessness? Using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and guided by the PRISMA‐ScR framework, the study found that mothers who are under state surveillance, racialized, living with health conditions, parenting alone, or experiencing intergenerational poverty are disproportionately at risk of being separated from their children.\n"]