Women
Women’s experiences of homelessness are shaped by factors that differ significantly from those affecting men.
Dalma Fabian
The Role of Gender-Based Violence
Domestic and intimate partner violence are leading drivers of homelessness among women. When in situation of homelessness, women face heightened risks of further gender-based violence, creating a vicious cycle in which violence both causes and sustains homelessness. Breaking this cycle requires making safety central to all support services and interventions.
How women’s homelessness is undercounted and often overlooked
Women experiencing homelessness are often ‘hidden’ from official statistics. Many avoid shelters and rough sleeping by staying temporarily with friends or relatives, concealing their situation, or moving between unstable accommodations. This invisibility means women’s homelessness is frequently underestimated and under-addressed, reinforcing the misconception that homelessness is predominantly a male issue.
Women’s needs and barriers to safety and empowerment
Women often navigate homelessness differently, relying on informal networks or personal strategies before engaging with formal services. When they do engage with services, their pathways are shaped by trauma, care-giving responsibilities for their children, and urgent safety concerns. However, many homelessness services are not designed with these realities in mind, often creating environments that compromise women’s sense of safety and autonomy. This highlights the need for services that are specifically designed to meet women’s needs.
Creating policies and services tailored to women’s experiences.
To effectively address women’s homelessness, policies and services must ensure that women’s unique experiences and needs are at the center. This includes creating women-only services and providing trauma and gender informed and empowerment-focused support.
Strategies to end and prevent women’s homelessness.
Preventing women’s homelessness requires addressing its root causes, including gender-based violence, poverty, and systemic inequalities. Long-term solutions must focus on providing safe housing, strengthening social support, and enabling economic independence.
FEANTSA WOMEN
FEANTSA Women is a community of practice focusing on women's homelessness. It was launched on International Women's Day, 8th March, 2022 and brings together anyone committed to ending women’s homelessness in Europe.
Our activities include:
- sharing of best practices to improve support for women experiencing homelessness
- creating a knowledge base and resources to strengthen the sector
- organising exchanges and collaborations to promote gender sensitive solutions
- developing new ways of working to end and prevent women’s homelessness.
Women's Voices
Women's Voices is a project funded by Erasmus Plus. The partnership includes BMSZKI (HU), Y Foundation (FI), Kings of the Street (SL), Armée du Salut (FR), SOMOS (PT), South East Technology University (IE) and FEANTSA.
The project aims to improve support for women experiencing homelessness based on their specific needs. Using a participatory photography methodology (Visual Voices) the project includes a series of workshops/joint trainings, the development of training packages and awareness-raising activities (online, European and local exhibitions) involving women experiencing homelessness to ensure that all outputs are shaped by their voices and experiences. The aim of the project is to encourage critical reflection and action to bring about change to how services are designed and delivered for women experiencing homelessness.
