In 2024, the World Health Organisation declared violence against women and girls a ‘major public health problem’. They estimated as many as 1 in 3 women around the world have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partner or sexual violence by a non-partner in their lifetime.
According to Refuge, as many as 40% of women experiencing homelessness say that domestic violence is the cause of their homelessness. That’s a worrying statistic, especially when you consider that once in the cycle of homelessness, any individual is more at risk of physical or sexual violence.
With this year’s International Women’s Day theme being ‘accelerating action’, how can we all take action to reduce the ongoing epidemic that is violence against women and girls?
What does ‘accelerate action’ mean?
‘Accelerate Action is a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activity that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.’ (International Women’s Day)
What does action look like for us at Simon on the Streets?
Increasing the number of women-only shelters and safe houses
We’ve heard and read about so many experiences of women escaping violence, only to be housed temporarily in mixed-gender accommodation where they don’t feel safe. Their boundaries are crossed. Their vulnerability is exploited. And many of them actually feel safer out on the streets.
It would appear there’s an urgent need for women-only spaces and a gendered approach to housing. This would give victims a safe space to recover both physically and emotionally, particularly those who have escaped abusive relationships.
Brighton and Manchester-based organisation JustLife carried out their own research on violence against women in mixed-gender temporary accommodation. The statistics published were just of incidents reported or witnessed. It’s suspected that the total figures are likely much higher:
- 45% of women experienced physical violence in mixed-gender temporary accommodation
- 20% of women experienced sexual violence in mixed-gender temporary accommodation
What factors need to be considered in women-only spaces?
To be truly effective in potentially preventing a victim of violence from falling into a cycle of homelessness, there are a number of things that need to be covered in the creation of women-only safe spaces/temporary accommodation, including:
Safety
Victims of domestic abuse are often more at risk once they leave the relationship. Many are harassed either by their ex-partner or associates, and the lack of security in many facilities means these people can gain access to mixed-gender accommodation.
To start to rebuild following domestic violence, it’s critical that women can be confident in their safety - both physically and psychologically.
Specific support
Receiving specific, tailored support is difficult when resources are so thinly stretched. But that intervention and support early on could be the difference in preventing a woman from falling into a long-term cycle of homelessness.
And surely, in 2025, we can all agree prevention is better than a cure.
Achieving this will take a considerable amount of research, resources and resilience. But this is just one piece of action desperately needed to make a difference in the battle we face against violence towards women and girls.
If you've been following our socials, you'll have seen our commitment to showing that 'SHE DOES EXIST'. Street homelessness amongst women is on the rise, with 680 counted as rough sleeping in autumn 2024. This is up from 568 in 2023 - an increase of 20%.
Women experiencing homelessness are out there, many of whom are hidden from view and away from the support they so desperately need.
If you’re concerned about anything we’ve discussed here, you can contact the team for support now.