But Leamington single mother Joanna Lapworth says she is no scrounger.
The 24-year-old is furious after another single mother, Joanna Henson, told the Courier that parents should work to support their children and not expect handouts.
Miss Lapworth lives with her daughter Georgina in a bed and breakfast in south Leamington after council officials decided she had made herself "intentionally homeless".

The 24-year-old, who is on maternity leave from Coventry City Council, said: "I have a good job but I am a single mother and at this moment I need to claim benefits. I have paid into the system and I should get something back when I need it.

"I have worked every day since I left school. I am not a scrounger."
Before she knew she was pregnant, Miss Lapworth had planned to move in with her former partner and left a secure tenancy.

Then her relationship with her former partner broke down, and she was forced to move in with her parents.

But living with smokers and in crowded conditions – she was sharing a bed with her sister – meant Miss Lapworth felt she had to leave and applied for a council flat.

But Warwick District Council officers ruled she had deliberately become homeless, moving her to a lower priority on the housing waiting list.

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She was given the option to appeal, but does not believe she was
properly advised of the consequences if she did not.

Now the young mother feels she is in a vicious circle, unable to return to work until she finds a home but with no chance of doing so without income.

She said: "I am quite a proud person and I don't like to admit I am on benefits but I never chose to be in this situation."

Miss Lapworth's maternity leave ends in November but she is eager to go back to work sooner – if she can find a home.

She is angry that Miss Henson has tarred single parents like her with not making an effort for their children.

She added: "I'm really annoyed she feels she can say that about everybody. I don't want handouts and I don't want this. All I want is a home to bring up my daughter."

District council spokesman Richard Brooker explained the term 'intentionally homeless' was a legal definition, and had applied to the young mother as she had left a private lease voluntarily.

Housing officials have also attempted to put her in touch with private landlords and offered help with a rent deposit, so far without success, but she had been housed in a bed and breakfast by social services.

Mr Brooker added: "She is in a similar situation to many thousands of other people on the housing waiting list. We have done everything we can to help her, particularly given her situation