Non-Technical Summary:
Most people in modern, developed countries live in stable and secure housing. However, at any given time, a small yet consequential fraction of men, women and children are homeless or live precariously in unstable circumstances. The substantial deprivations of homelessness, especially street homelessness, have made it a focus of social, policy, and research concern. Research across many countries and contexts has improved our knowledge of the incidence, drivers, and consequences of homelessness—the consideration of women’s homelessness has been particularly valuable in this regard. Nevertheless, our understandings remain incomplete, and our policy responses, inadequate.
While the general social problem of homelessness affects both women and men, yet there are many aspects of homelessness that are unique to women. Overall, women are much less likely than men to find themselves homeless, and if they become homeless, women tend to have shorter spells. However, differences in the proportions of women and men who are homeless narrow when we consider particular categorizations, such as sheltered homelessness and doubled-up situations. Also, the circumstances of women’s homelessness differ from men’s, with women being vastly-overrepresented in family as opposed to single-adult homelessness.
This paper reviews international evidence regarding women’s homelessness. It discusses different definitions of homelessness and how women are frequently part of the “hidden homeless” population and less a part of the unsheltered homeless population. It also considers the data that are used to enumerate and study homeless people. The structural, personal, and random causes of homelessness are discussed, with evidence pointing to highly gendered patterns. The paper also describes the consequences of women’s homelessness, including the consequences for children, and the material and psychological coping strategies that homeless people employ. It considers policies to reduce homelessness and ameliorate its problems.