This session was delivered as a webinar via Teams on Thursday 22 May 2025
Part of our SMD Learning Series.
The webinar was led by Carolin Hess, Research Fellow from Nottingham Trent University.
The number of women experiencing homelessness is rising in England, with women, on average, making up more than 60% of the population in temporary accommodations across the country. Recent research emphasises the compound challenges that women with homeless experiences face in accessing and engaging with housing and support services, especially in relation to their experiences of (sexual/domestic) violence and abuse which continue to present in their homelessness trajectories.
Yet, little is known how these experiences of abuse and violence, institutional and everyday violence they encounter on the street and when accessing services often continue to impact on their help-seeking and pathways out of homelessness.
Despite the introduction of some empowerment-based policies in the UK, such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, giving those who are homeless because of domestic abuse priority need for accommodation, a clear right of action and resources are missing. This has led to a very different reality of service delivery and practice and the actual lived experience of these women.
Drawing on participant observation across statutory and voluntary homelessness services in Nottingham and 50 in-depth interviews with practitioners and women with homelessness experience, the presentation aimed to critically investigate women’s homelessness trajectories, exploring the impact of intersectionality, violence, and women’s relationships with workers, partners, and social networks on their access to care and support. The presentation also considered some policy and service implications of the findings to more effectively address the needs of these women.
Presenters:
- Carolin Hess is a Research Fellow in Social Policy at Nottingham Trent University and supports the evaluation and learning of the Changing Futures Nottingham programme.
Materials available to download:
Presentation slides (File type: pdf. Size: 560KB)
A recording of the presentation is available to watch via YouTube. Length: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Watch the video now (click to launch the video in YouTube)