“Women’s homelessness is often unseen in public. When I see a woman on the streets, it’s a gut-punch, because women are less visible on our streets compared to men. But that doesn’t mean a large number of homeless women don’t exist.
In fact, I usually find the strength and resilience of homeless women behind closed doors. They’re more likely to hide, sofa surf, put themselves in unsafe situations for somewhere to sleep that night or even stay put in a dangerous relationship.
The Wallich has been working since 1978 to house and support people when a home is no longer a home. As times change, our approach to helping people has also evolved. In my work, I have to look at the different needs that different people have – an intersectional and trauma-informed response to homelessness.
That’s why, with the support of Homewards and the Royal Foundation, The Wallich is running a homeless women’s action group called Gwent Women Will Unite.
Our group deals with issues specific to women – domestic violence, sex work, trafficking, being a mother, drugs and addictions, developing our strengths, showing our value and our confidence to make the world a better place.
We’re a group for all women with lived experiences. I talk to them about what didn’t go well in their life and the support they deserved to have, but didn’t get. We’re shouting loud to work with the powers that be, to make the journey smoother for future women walking the same path.
But what happens once you’re housed after becoming homeless? What next?
Gwent BOOST is a partnership of agencies like The Wallich, St Giles, Welsh Refugee Council, Tai Pawb and Cyfannol, coming together with same goal: Building on the strengths and skills of people who have experienced homelessness, to break the cycle of homelessness, making it rare, brief and non-reoccurring.
The ladies and I of Gwent Women Will Unite and Gwent BOOST are working on some exciting projects:
They say progress is not possible without change, that’s why asking women about their experiences, how can systems learn from them and change them for the better is the only way we can safeguard women from the future trauma of homelessness.