As a society, we can still be pretty squeamish about openly talking about sexual health. But here at Simon on the Streets, we’ve never shied away from the real issues - the real everyday experiences of those facing homelessness.
And that includes sexual health - an issue that continues to pose very real risks for many people, including those experiencing homelessness. But just what are the concerns, and what can we do about them?
Women facing homelessness are vulnerable
Getting an accurate picture of women’s homelessness isn’t easy. The number of women recorded as homeless is all too often inaccurate and not truly representative of the scale of the issue.
Women are left out of homelessness statistics for so many reasons. Many remain out of sight, becoming part of the ‘hidden homeless’ that fall through the cracks when it comes to help and support.
For many women, their journey forces them to turn to ‘survival sex work’ in order to fulfil basic needs - food, warmth and shelter. In fact, as many as 20% have engaged in sex work to pay for a hotel room for the night.
Unfortunately, this leaves them extremely vulnerable to either falling pregnant or catching sexually transmitted diseases that have a serious impact on their health and wellbeing.
Drug-related STDs
Homelessness or unstable housing has now been linked with much higher risks of developing HIV and Hepatitis C (commonly passed on from sharing needles or unhygienic injecting). This is a massive cause for concern, especially given the fact that there’s still a high correlation between those experiencing homelessness and substance addiction.
For some, substance addiction has led to homelessness, whilst for others, their addiction is a consequence of becoming homeless. Either way, drug-related STDs are yet another risk that those dealing with homelessness face.
Barriers to services
What’s concerning here is just how many people are not accessing services to treat STDs or reaching out for the support they need if they discover that they’re pregnant.
The barriers to accessing medical services are still high. Sometimes, this is because an individual doesn’t have the appropriate documents or ID. In other cases, it’s because there’s a mistrust there, having been let down or judged by services in the past.
Despite the availability of drop-in sexual health clinics, many people fear they’ll be judged or even criminalised if they tell someone they’ve engaged in sex work or survival sex with multiple partners.
What can be done about it?
An outreach-led approach is vital here. If fear of judgement or broken trust keeps people from accessing the treatment or care they need, then establishing that trust is the number one priority.
At Simon on the Streets, accompanying people to appointments is one of the most critical tasks for our outreach team. Whether they're there as a supportive presence or to help advocate for an individual, they provide the security someone might need when feeling vulnerable.
It might be a one-off introductory appointment, or we might go with them to every appointment they attend for six months. It doesn’t matter. If they need us, we’ll be there.
If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases can have serious consequences. If left unsupported and without the appropriate care, there can be huge risks to both parent and baby if there’s a pregnancy.
If you’re currently experiencing homelessness and need support or know someone who needs our help, please contact us now.
Useful links:
Locala Sexual Health (Bradford)
Forward Leeds (addiction support)
New Vision Bradford (addiction support)