A woman stands tall in the park in a black jacket on a clear day.

Women

Women experience homelessness very differently to men. 

Most of the women we support have lived through layers of complex trauma, often facing tough, life-altering challenges. These can include domestic abuse (sometimes dating back to childhood), sexual violence, modern-day slavery, sex work, violence on the streets, and family breakdown, including having children taken away.

85% of women in our female-only hostels have experienced different forms of violence, including abuse from partners or family members, sexual violence, or modern-day slavery.

These experiences can trigger issues with substance misuse, offending and mental health problems. This includes severe mental health conditions like psychosis, paranoia, and hearing voices.

If I didn’t have Single Homeless Project, I don’t know where I would be. I was rough sleeping before, and I do not know where I’d be without them. They helped me understand where to go and how to deal with things; it was a huge help.

Plum
Plum was supported in our women-only hostel
A woman in a red jumper stands indoors in front of a cream-coloured wall.

We know that the key to supporting women out of homelessness is understanding the complexity of their experiences and challenges. That’s why we create a gender- and trauma-informed environment and take a flexible and non-judgmental approach that helps build a supportive community. Our clients finally feel safe and supported with us in our safe, female-only spaces.  

 Our support is all about the individual – tailored to each woman’s unique needs, preferences, and wishes. This includes:

  • Focusing on wellbeing: We focus on both physical and mental health, working with psychologists to work through trauma and other life experiences.
  • Building resilience and self-esteem: We help women gain the confidence to face future challenges, including support in building healthy, positive relationships.
  • Breaking down barriers: We make sure women can access the right services, especially those dealing with both mental health and substance use issues. We host in-house health days, bringing professionals on-site to make this easier.
  • Safety and empowerment: For women still in relationships with perpetrators, we provide safety planning and access to a multi-agency network, ensuring violence is no longer part of their journey.
  • Family and connections: We help women navigate the complex relationships they have with their children and families, giving them the tools for healthier connections and positive support networks.
  • Working towards a positive future: Through our employment programme, we help women build skills and confidence, setting them up for success.

Influencing women’s homelessness

We’re focused on leading change in women’s homelessness. Why?

Because women experiencing homelessness in England are being let down by a system designed predominantly for men. A major part of the problem is that the Government policies and practices we rely on are based on data that doesn’t recognise and account for the experiences of women sleeping rough.

We are calling for the Government to take action and tackle the systemic inequalities faced by homeless women.

Read more about our work influencing women's homelessness
A woman staring into the distance, her expression thoughtful and contemplative.