Women navigate homelessness very differently to men. The reality is that as a woman, you are more at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. And so women often stay hidden – on sofas, on night buses and in dark corners. Hidden from the dangers of being visible on the streets, but also hidden from the help they desperately need and deserve.
Many women who are homelessness have also experienced domestic abuse and violence in their own homes as well as trauma from their childhood and potentially the removal of children from their care.
No woman should have to hide. And every woman deserves to be treated with dignity, to be seen and heard and feel safe from harm.
We have been working with women experiencing homelessness for many years. We understand that women need services designed just for them. We’re putting our expertise into action by opening more women-only services across London, sharing our knowledge and women’s voices with other organisations and influencing local authorities and service commissioners to develop and commission more gender-informed services.
Every year, thousands of women leaving prison are pushed straight into homelessness. When released, most will leave with very little except a £46 discharge grant and plastic bag holding a few belongings. Read more
We take a look at Project Kali, our award-winning female-focused Housing First service which supports women with complex needs Read more
Tanja tells us what can we do to improve services for women experiencing homelessness Read more
Amy reflects on how women experience homelessness and the importance of addressing female-specific needs when providing support. Read more
Empowering futures was the first project in Redbridge to focus solely on women and their specific needs. In Sophie's time working at Redbridge, she noticed a real lack of support for women who deserved more to help them on their recovery journeys. Find out what she did. Read more
Nicola runs Single Homeless Project’s Psychotherapy services. She speaks about how women experience homelessness and the things that can be done to ensure they are offered the right support. Read more
Safe spaces for women can be a rarity in the capital but, as the numbers of female homeless rise and more is learnt about their needs, the value of female-only accommodation sites is starting to be realised Read more