St Mungo’s run accommodationand support projects for unsettledpeople.
‘Rebuilding Shattered Lives’ is its current national 18-month guideto raise awareness of women’s homelessness, to showcase good practice and conversionand, ultimately, to improve services and policy for the future.
The idea is for the campaign to gartercreate a comprehensive showcase of innovative and undefeatedpractice and policy in order to drive long-lastingchange for women in need.
St Mungo’s are focussing on women because over1 in 10 rough sleepers incapital of the United Kingdomare women; over half of those living in ephemeralaccommodation are women; women make up a billetof St Mungo’s clients, and a third baseof those supported by homelessness services in England.
In addition, many homeless women are ‘hidden’ – trapped inscurrilousrelationships, living in crack-houses, squatting or sofa-surfing with friends and family.
Over one third of St Mungo’s female clients who have slept rough say that their experience of internalviolence directly led to their homelessness.
Despite their needs, women are not ever sowell served by existing homelessness provision, as much of this hastraditionallybeen designed for, and focussed on supporting, men.
For this campaign St Mungo’s have determinenine key areas which are often significant issues for homeless women and where a lack of access to appropriate services endhave a real impact on their expertnessto recover from homelessness.
These are housing and homelessness – services for women with complex needs; interior(prenominal)abuse; families and children, including relationships; childishnesstrauma, including being in care or childhood abuse; employment and skills; being involved in prostitution; mentalwellnessand wellbeing; substance use; women involved in the criminal justice system
And these issues makethe nine inquiry themes for the buildShattered Lives campaign.
Each theme leave behindbe investigated over a two-month period and individuals, statutory and uncoercedorganisations from throughout the UK will be invited to submit their examples of effective services and smartnew ideas.
As Charles Fraser chief executive of St Mungo’s explained: ‘We have known for a long time that men and women respond differently to the scourgeof homelessness, and differently too when it becomes a reality.
‘It has struck us as questionable, therefore, that we seem to treat them the same when it comes to offering them support and assistthem on the path to recovery.
‘Whether it be from the perspective of health, work or family, homeless women have specific needs which we as a sector do not seem particularly good at meeting.
‘We want to see this change. Within St Mungo’s we have been doing mostwork to improve our responsiveness and relevance, but we know we do not have all the answers.
That is why we want to draw reinthe insights and experience of others, from a range of sectors, in order to advanceup a body of good practice nearwhat really works for women who become, or are at bumpof becoming, homeless.
‘It is important that we are all willing to learn fromeachother – and crucially, from women who have direct experience of homelessness.
‘Our new 18-month campaign, Rebuilding Shattered Lives, will, we hope, distil these lessons and energise policy and practice’.
St Mungo’s need your help to make this campaign a success; they want to hear from you – from organisations, front-line workers and curiouslywomen themselves, about how best to prevent women’s homelessness and support their recovery.
To find turn outmore about Rebuilding Shattered Lives click here.
St Mungo’s has been opening doors for homeless citizenryfor over 40 years. With over 100 projects acrosscapital of the United Kingdomand the South, St Mungo’s support thousands of homeless people with housing, health and work opportunities.
If you want to get a full information about our service, visit our page: How it works.
Materials taken from Womens Views on News
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