Women are a rising statistic among the homeless population. Many women become homeless due to domestic violence. This points to a link between an ineffective criminal response system and the onset of female homelessness. In a study of 24 formerly homeless women in NY it was found that their time in shelters "paled in comparison to the epic and tragic nature of these women's ongoing difficulties... in fact for some women, experiences of the shelter system provided temporary respite from the harsher reality they faced prior to and/or following their shelter stay." (Styron et al 2000). The common themes among the women were poverty, neglect, abuse, troubled interpersonal relationships and mental health concerns. (Styron et al 2000). Many people ask of abused women "why don't they leave?" The answer: "For some women, their escape means long durations of unacceptable living conditions or homelessness. According to shelter statistics, the wait for subsidized housing is anywhere from 3 weeks to 5 years (sic) despite the existence of a special priority for placement for victims of abuse." (Sev'er 2002) The fear of homelessness locks many women into abusive relationships.  

Bibliography on homeless women

Research on homeless families

Data Collection Project Twelfth Annual Report 2003

"A significant number of the women had moved as many as six times within the past five years for various reasons, including domestic violence, interpersonal conflict, overcrowding, and eviction. Identified needs included housing, food, clothing, and
transportation. The needs of homeless women and their children were different from the needs of the homeless chronically mentally ill and require specialized services as well as an increase in the available number of lowincome housing units (authors)." Authors: Khanna, M., Singh, N.N., Nemil, M., Best, A., Ellis, C.R. Title: Homeless Women and Their Families: Characteristics, Life Circumstances, and Needs. Source: Journal of Child and Family Studies 1(2): 155-165, 1992. (Journal Article: 11 pages)

'This article analyzes both homeless shelters and battered women's shelters in Phoenix, Az., and points to the striking similarities in reasons for seeking emergency housing in both types of shelters. Specifically women discuss similarly impoverished circumstances and often indicate that their past histories include abusive partners. Partly, the similarity in these stories can be traced to overlapping populations of the two types of
shelters. Women may enter a homeless shelter after spending thirty days in a battered women's shelter, and some may enter homeless shelters instead of battered women's shelters due to availability, later curfews, and a variety of other reasons. The author concludes that the overlap in populations and the similarities among women's stories suggest a complex connection between battering and homelessness (author)." Authors: Williams, J.C. Title: Domestic Violence and Poverty: The Narratives of Homeless Women. Source: Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 19(2): 143-165, 1998. (Journal Article: 23 pages)

"Much of the literature on homelessness never mentions woman battering as a cause of homelessness. The United States Conference of Mayors listed lack of affordable housing, mental illness, unemployment, poverty or the lack of income, and inadequate benefit levels in public assistance programs as the causes of homelessness in American cities. Studies of homeless women and families traditionally exclude battered women's shelters, presumably because their residents are unrepresentative of the homeless. However, the reality is that battered women and their children comprise a significant proportion of occupants of homeless shelters. This articles examines conflicting theories of causes of homelessness, the extent and cost of abuse to women, the effects of battering on children and proposals to minimize homelessness among battered women (author). Authors: Zorza, J. Title: Woman Battering: A Major Cause of Homelessness. Source: Clearinghouse Review Special Issue: 412-429, 1991. (Journal Article: 10 pages)

Don't lose hope. When it gets darkest the stars come out.
-- Unknown.

 

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.
-- Robert Ingersoll.

 

 

 

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