In the months leading up to COVID-19, two groups of researchers set out to investigate homelessness among women. The researchers were concerned that women’s experiences were overlooked. Both groups have produced reports to share their findings. Each used a different method to complete their research and are great examples of exploratory research to open up the issue.
One group is based in the UK. Their investigation focusses on women’s experience of homelessness. It includes interviews with 26 women who were experiencing homelessness.
According to the national government, homeless families are designated a priority group for attention and support. The interviews uncovered multiple ways that this official priority is undermined by policy conflicts and program implementation on the front line. One of the most difficult issues to navigate is the conflicts between child protection policies and financial social assistance offered to mothers who are homeless, particularly in cases of domestic abuse.
Here is just one example: children may be removed from their home for safety and to avoid witnessing abuse. After attending to their children’s safety on a temporary basis, the mothers are often assessed as being single when applying for social assistance and therefore not eligible for priority consideration.
The report’s authors recommend a number of changes to policy that could overcome these conflicts as well as areas for further investigation. They are well positioned to move ahead with further research.
The second group, which is based in Canada, sought information at a national level about women’s housing and homelessness. The idea behind it was to create a base line of information for action on women’s homelessness issues. The study team included academics, policy makers, program managers and people with lived experience.
The study process started with a search of the available information related to women’s housing and homelessness. They cast the net broadly, including academic studies, community based research, the census and other sources. This produced over 10,000 documents! They found lots of information and research on a small scale, but little that provided a national overview. The available reports nevertheless enabled the study team to identify common themes in women’s experience of homelessness. They organized all of the studies into eight key challenges. Here are three examples:
- a need for adequate and safe housing
- cycles of repeated violence and
- system gaps, silos and policies that contribute to homelessness.
The report is being used in national discussions to plan next steps for a newly formed Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network.
Both reports illustrate different ways to investigate an issue that deserves more attention. Their findings are complementary, particularly with regard to policy conflicts and the prevalence of violence as a factor contributing to homelessness. These reports represent two solid foundations for action by policy makers, decision makers and advocates.
Both reports include descriptions of the research methods, which will be helpful for people who are looking for ideas for studies designed to explore issues that have been overlooked. The reports also demonstrate that a range of approaches can be taken. This in turn highlights the value of spending time to decide on a suitable method, to ensure a good fit with the overall intention of the project.
These reports are most timely, as domestic violence and homelessness have been prominent as safety issues during COVID-19. The more we know about women’s experiences, the better we will be at acting to end homelessness among women.
To read more about the UK policy brief see: Forgotten mothers: the case for a policy focus on the experiences of motherhood and homelessness
The key research findings are also available: Homeless mothers: Key research findings
The Canadian study is published in key findings, two executive summaries (in French and English) and a full report. All are available at the homeless hub: The State of Women’s Housing Need & Homelessness in Canada
