Homelessness is a unique experience for everyone, but women navigate it differently than men. They face specific challenges, like domestic abuse, caregiving, and hidden homelessness, that often go unnoticed.
The hidden nature of women’s homelessness often leaves many feeling invisible, making it harder to access the support they need.
Recognising women’s gender-specific struggles is crucial to ensuring the right support systems are in place, and no woman slips through the cracks.
Domestic abuse causes homelessness for women
Abusive relationships leave many women in a catch-22: stay with their abuser or pack up, go, and end up homeless. Some women stay to keep a roof over their heads—and sometimes their children’s heads—only leaving when they reach a breaking point.
Our research has found that domestic abuse is a ‘near-universal’ experience for homeless women. While it may not always be the direct cause of homelessness, many women begin to open up about their abuse after finding support, having carried the weight of this trauma in silence for so long. This hidden trauma can harm women’s mental health, making it harder for them to escape homelessness, even after finding support.
Many women don’t reach out for support because they fear judgment and discrimination or because they don’t feel safe in traditional mixed-gender hostels. They need tailored support that addresses the unique needs of women experiencing homelessness and safe spaces where they can recover.
Women can’t find the right support
Our five women-only hostels are nurturing environments where women get just that. These spaces allow women to process their emotions and rebuild their lives to live independently and fulfil their dreams. For Plum, our Women’s Respite Service made all the difference. She went from rough sleeping to studying for her dream—setting up a nursery in just over a year.
We need more women’s services like where I’m staying. I didn’t know places like this existed. We need more of them. I didn’t think this place would help me when I came here. But they helped me with everything. I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.
Hiding from safety but also from support
Sleeping on our city’s streets is traumatic, lonely, and scary for anyone. But women are more vulnerable to the dangers.
Women who sleep rough face a constant and high risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation. They often hide away from city centres to stay safe, seeking refuge in hospitals, McDonald’s, secluded alleyways, bins, or by riding night buses until sunrise. This is probably why you’ve seen fewer women on the streets than men.
Though hidden from view, they are also hidden from the support systems there to help them. The lack of support means women are forced to spend longer on the street, having a devasting impact on their physical and mental health.
Caught in a system with no way out
Most people who are homeless still have a roof over their heads. Temporary accommodation is one of the most common forms of homelessness, including shared houses, B&Bs, or hotels.
Women make up 60% of homeless adults in temporary accommodation in England and 65% in London. These figures are part of a growing trend; the number of women forced into temporary accommodation has nearly doubled in the last decade. Hidden from the eye of the public, yet struggling for survival, caught in a system with no clear way out.
Economic and caregiving reasons make women more vulnerable to temporary housing. They are more likely to live in poverty, work in low-wage or unstable jobs, and face the added financial pressure of caring for children. In fact, lone mothers are the most likely to be homeless in England, with 1 in 38 in this situation.
Children, pregnancy and periods
Women are more likely to be the primary caregivers than men. This burden becomes particularly stressful when they can barely keep a roof over their heads. Some women also choose not to seek homeless support out of fear that their children will be taken from them. Many of the women we support have had their children removed, which can have a lifelong effect on their mental health.
Women may become pregnant when homeless, which is particularly true while on the streets. Some women will start relationships with men on the street for safety or are sexually assaulted and lack access to healthcare services, often resulting in pregnancy. Women on the street are also far less likely to know if they become pregnant. This can have severe consequences.
Periods can create a dire situation for women struggling to meet their basic needs. Without money for sanitary products or access to proper washing facilities, women resort to makeshift solutions and public washing, increasing their risk of infection and undermining their dignity. Unable to manage their periods properly, women can feel shame, embarrassment, and insecurity.
We’re leading the charge to tackle women’s homelessness and are dedicated to helping women overcome their unique challenges. Our work supports them in rebuilding their lives while driving policy change to ensure no woman is left without the help she needs.
Our third Women’s Rough Sleeping Census is underway, with more local authorities joining every year. This helps expand our impact beyond London, uncovering the full scope of women’s homelessness: where and when they sleep and what they experience and need to escape homelessness for good. We’re also growing our five women-only services, ensuring women can access safe spaces and tailored support.
No woman should have to hide. Every woman deserves to be treated with dignity, seen, heard, and protected from harm.
Click here to learn more about our women’s homelessness work.
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