“I went back to the streets as I felt safer there”: why we need temporary accommodation that works for women

The Women’s Emergency Accommodation Action Group (WEAAG) has carried out research to establish what Temporary Accommodation that works for women looks like.

WEAAG consists of representatives from seven organisations, led by Justlife, supporting women who experience homelessness with various aspects of their lives. Together we have expertise in how vulnerable women are affected by the prison system, domestic abuse, physical and mental health, substance misuse and homelessness (see full list below).

Being in Temporary Accommodation (TA) is traumatic for anyone, but especially for women who have experienced domestic abuse (DA). We all see this through our daily work, but we decided to add substance to the anecdotal evidence by carrying out research into women’s experiences while in mixed gender homelessness accommodation.

To ensure a broad perspective, the research is based on the perspectives of women who have been placed in TA, as well as that of frontline workers who work with them. In total, the findings are based on 25 client questionnaires, 13 case studies and 112 frontline worker questionnaires, from across our services. We also looked at statistics on failed placements and incidents involving women in TA, and conducted research into best practice women’s accommodation from other parts of the country.

Mixed gender TA does not meet the needs of these women for several reasons:

Safety: Women are frequently harassed around the clock by specific men, including their abusers and associates. There are a disproportionate number of men with problematic backgrounds in TA, and substance use exacerbates these issues. Additionally, the lack of security in some TA allows men, who do not live there, to gain access.

Communal Facilities: The communal nature of the facilities compromises personal safety. Many women who have experienced trauma have had their boundaries violated and their sense of worth eroded, which can leave them at high risk of further exploitation.

Lack of Support: There is an insufficient number of staff and no specialist domestic abuse workers within the TA. This leaves women without the necessary support to engage with services that could assist them. In addition, staff are usually male and generally not trained in Trauma Informed Practice

Security turns a blind eye to drug use and then don’t turn up if there is a problem. - TA resident

Physical violence on-site in mixed gender accommodation was reportedly experienced by 45% of women. This was more than double the equivalent figure for men. Sexual violence on-site in mixed gender accommodation was reportedly experienced by 20% of women. This was more than triple the equivalent figure for men. These figures only include cases that were formally reported or witnessed by staff or other residents. The real figure will be much higher.

In addition to the suffering some of the most vulnerable women go through, it is also important to note that this model is not cost-effective for the public purse. When women are placed in inappropriate environments, their needs can escalate, leading to increased costs. Barriers to sustaining accommodation can result in a return to rough sleeping and other unsafe situations, which delays recovery and necessitates prolonged support.

This also puts a strain on other services, including the police, hospital, social services, and adult mental health services, and the involvement of multiple agencies are often required to manage the many intersecting needs of these women.

The proportion of women who move placements or abandon TA compared to men is strikingly higher, again leading to additional costs for the local authority and further traumatisation for women, as well as the increased workload for other services.

Our research highlights the benefits of women’s TA and underscores the need for specialised support to foster a secure and supportive environment for women in crisis. Key learnings:

• Women feel significantly safer and more supported in women-only TA.
• Comprehensive staff training tailored to the unique needs of women, especially those who have experienced trauma, is crucial.
• Partnerships with local mental health, drug, and alcohol support services are beneficial.
• Flexibility in accommodating individual needs, including options for mixed-gender or single-gender accommodation, is important.
• Ensuring adequate security measures, such as 24/7 staffing and CCTV is essential for maintaining a safe environment.

Whilst the research was carried out in Brighton & Hove, these are issues faced by vulnerable women and cash-strapped local authorities across the country. Brighton and Hove City Council has been proactive in their response and is looking to secure 20 units for women experiencing homelessness, with a view to ring fencing more units if the model is successful. The provision will be prioritised for women who are at risk of exploitation, have experienced complex trauma or are waiting for high-support accommodation. If this progresses, the accommodation will have adequate security to keep the women safe.

This would not only improve their immediate wellbeing but also enhance their ability to recover and progress towards independence. It would also reduce the strain on other public services, leading to more efficient use of resources. By taking this step, Brighton would significantly improve the quality of life and outcomes for women in the city, ensuring they receive the specialised support they need in a secure and nurturing environment.

We hope this piece of work can help other local authorities, who are grappling with how to keep vulnerable homeless women safe while minding stretched public spending. If you are interested in discussing anything mentioned in this blog, you can contact us here.

• Justlife - a national charity that supports people in Emergency/Temporary Accommodation in Brighton and Manchester, and campaigns nationally to make people’s stay in TA as short safe and healthy as possible
• Rise - a Sussex-based charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence
• CGL - Change, Grow, Live offer recovery-focused drug and alcohol support in Brighton and Hove
• Brighton Women’s Centre - supports women dealing with bereavement or trauma, who have been through homelessness or the criminal justice system, survivors of abuse or discrimination
• Sussex Pathways - a criminal justice charity based in Lewes, East Sussex, working within prisons and communities with the aim of reducing offending behaviours and empowering ex-offenders to make positive life choices
• Arch Healthcare CIC - a GP service in Brighton for people experiencing all kinds of homelessness
• Lawstop - a specialist firm of solicitors with offices across the country, including in Brighton, specialising in all types of housing, education, community care and public law matters

This piece of work was also supported by Councillor Paul Nann, Labour (Wish Ward).

Image credit: Centre for Homelessness Impact Image Library