For instance, women are particularly vulnerable to victimization and are at higher risk for physical and sexual violence while living on the streets or in shelters. ![]() Much of the homelessness literature indicates that homelessness for women is unique from men’s experiences as women’s experiences are governed by oppression, gender inequality, and stigma. This research team concluded that further research is needed to determine how to adapt the model for particular sub-groups including women. However, in a Canada wide research study to determine its effectiveness, “the ‘typical’ participant was a male in his early 40’s…”. Housing First is an intervention that provides affordable housing and case management services and has been identified as a ‘best practice’ intervention that can sustainably end homelessness for people with complex physical and mental health issues. One study identified that “women as a homeless population have conventionally been left out of societal discourse, public policy, and research agendas, thereby affecting funding priorities and the development of service delivery models.” Evidence also shows that without appropriate interventions, women have a high likelihood for multiple episodes of homelessness. It has been suggested that women experience both “spatial and policy invisibility,” and as a result are less likely to be effectively served by conventional health and social services. Women often seek shelter in “non-service-led situations” such as sleeping rough, couch surfing or staying in unsafe housing. Evidence suggests that women are largely underrepresented in homeless counts as they are less visible in their experiences of homelessness. Homeless women are considered “one of the most vulnerable subpopulations among the homeless,” which is attributable to many interrelated factors such as a shortage of women-centred services, women’s vulnerability to violence, exploitation and marginalization, and higher rates of poverty often lacking the necessary resources when escaping violence. While women made up 27% of the Canadian homeless population in 2016, 89% of families in shelters were found to be headed by women. Current Housing First interventions should be adapted to ensure women’s safety is protected and their unique needs are addressed. In order to ensure that women who are less visible in their experiences of homelessness are able to access appropriate services, it is important that service provision is both gender specific and trauma-informed. The results should not be considered in isolation, as the literature suggests, because they are highly interconnected. Women have greater mental health concerns, higher rates of diagnosed mental health issues, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and adverse childhood trauma. Women’s experiences of homelessness are different from their male counterparts. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were calculated to provide insight into women respondents’ characteristics and experiences of homelessness and how they differed from men’s experiences. ![]() Eighty-one women participants were identified as a subsample to be examined in greater depth. The survey instrument measured socio-demographics, adverse childhood experiences, mental and physical health, and perceived accessibility to resources. Three hundred survey interviews were conducted with people experiencing homelessness in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ![]() The purpose of this study is to highlight the experiences of women who are often hidden in what we know and understand about homelessness, and to make policy and practice recommendations for women-centred services including adaptations to current housing interventions.
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