About Homelessness

Homelessness is primarily due to; a lack of affordable, safe, available housing, with major contributing factors being family violence or breakdown and sexual assault. Homeless women can often be 'invisible' and hidden from public view due to lack of statistical data. This is despite the fact that women and female headed households have an increased risk of homelessness as a result of thier greater exposure to violence, poverty and inequality. In addition, women with children experiencing homelessness require specific support services to cater for their particular needs.

In Figures:

• Research shows that 44% of homeless people are women.
• One in two people who request immediate accommodation are turned away each night due to high demand and under-resourcing.
• The majority of these people are women and their children. 66% of the children who accompanied an adult to a homeless service last year were in the care of a woman, usually their mother.