Women

Women’s experiences of homelessness are often shaped by safety and survival. And that can make their homelessness easy to miss.

For many women, homelessness doesn’t mean sleeping visibly on the street. It can mean staying with someone who is abusive because there is nowhere safer to go. Sofa surfing. Sleeping on buses or in public spaces. Walking through the night to avoid harm. These can be ways of navigating the very real risks of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Violence, abuse and trauma can be part of what leads to homelessness too – and can continue long after a woman loses her home.

All of this means women can be missed by official figures and services, and miss out on the support they need.

Women need support that understands their experiences and is designed around them.

Across London, we provide specialist women-only services, work with women and our partners to improve how women experiencing homelessness are understood and supported, and push for wider change so women are seen, counted and heard.

Explore our services, campaigns, research and insights on women’s homelessness.