Last updated: 20 December 2022
Myths or assumptions about women’s experience impact on most aspects of homelessness, from who is represented in the data, how services are commissioned and designed, and how the public treat women who are visibly homeless.
Myths exist in the imaginary and so it is difficult to comprehend how widely held they are. The seven myths that are explored in this briefing have been identified through our work on women’s homelessness because of the impact they have had on service design and delivery. This briefing is suitable for anyone, but particularly for those who want to provide or develop support to women experiencing homelessness.
Seven Myths About Women’s Homelessness
- Myth: Women are less likely to be homeless
- Myth: Women are protected from the harshest effects of homelessness
- Myth: Women make up a small proportion of people who experience rough sleeping
- Myth: Women are more likely to reach out for support
- Myth: There are enough services for women who experience homelessness
- Myth: All women’s experiences are the same
- Myth: Women who are considered single and homeless are not
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