Women experiencing homelessness repeatedly state that they often feel unsafe in mixed-sex services, yet only 10% of homelessness services nationally have any form of women-only services. A lack of a safe spaces for homeless women is a barrier to accessing support and beginning journeys to recovery, and is a key gap we can collectively address.

New guidance on creating trauma-informed, women-only provision within homelessness services from the Women’s Development Unit aims to bridge this gap. Our free webinar on 6 April will explore this guidance and offer practical support.

The Women’s Development Unit (WDU) is a London-based partnership project between The Connection at St Martin’s and Solace Women’s Aid. In collaboration with the homelessness and women’s specialist sector, we have spent the last year creating a pan-London Women’s Homelessness Strategy, which has now been published.

This strategy aims to increase understanding of women’s experience of homelessness and rough sleeping. It also sets out recommendations for how organisations – such as service providers, local authorities, funders and commissioners – can improve the support and services women need.

As part of this work, the new guidance on women’s spaces in homelessness settings was developed in consultation with stakeholders across the homelessness and specialist women’s sectors and women with lived experience. It brings together best practice and aims to support homelessness services, and partner agencies, to increase women’s provision within their organisations.

Free WDU Webinar: Wednesday 6 April 2022, 1.30-3pm
This event will share WDU guidance on women’s spaces in homeless settings. It will explore the rationale behind women only spaces, why women’s spaces are a crucial to enabling women to access support and share learning and best practice.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and get practical support to develop women’s provision within their own organisations and services.

Who is this webinar for?
Commissioners and service providers supporting women experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

How to join
Please register via Eventbrite to join the event.

Further information
– Get your copy of the best practice guidance on women’s spaces in homeless settings
– Read the WDU’s strategy to end women’s homelessness
– Download the supporting evidence report
– Find out more about the strategy and why it matters