Homeless census gives 84 women a 'vital voice'

A census that found 84 women had nowhere to stay during a three-month period has given them a "vital voice".

West Northamptonshire Council said between July and September it found they were either sleeping rough, staying in unsafe or unstable environments, using places that were open 24 hours a day, sleeping temporarily with family, friends or strangers, living in unsuitable accommodation or fleeing domestic abuse.

Women shared their experiences via in-depth surveys, which found they were also affected by sexual violence, trauma, poor mental health and had had involvement with the criminal justice system.

The authority said the findings would shape the support it could give.

It said the research had "provided one of the most detailed pictures yet" of the challenges being faced by homeless women.

It also provided "valuable insight into the complex factors that can lead to homelessness and the barriers to accessing support".

The work was delivered in partnership with the council's Rough Sleeping Outreach and Adult Social Care teams, Inspire's Women at Risk Recovery Workers and Outreach Team, Queen's Refuge, Bridge Gold Street Hub, C2C Social Action Women's Centre, Probation and other services.

Andrea Knowles, senior operations manager for the Inspire charity, said it had given a "vital voice" to women, whose experiences were too often hidden.

"The findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed, gender-specific support and strong partnership working," she said.

"By listening to women's experiences, we can help shape services that are more accessible, responsive, and effective in supporting women to achieve safety, stability, and recovery."

Reform UK's Charlie Hastie, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and communities, said: "The findings will help us and our partners better understand where support is needed most, helping to strengthen services and inform how we work together to prevent people from reaching crisis point.

"We are committed to ensuring that women facing some of the most difficult circumstances receive the support, safety and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives."

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