NEA-PROJECT. Securing Housing for Women

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1 NEA-PROJECT Securing Housing for Women Saija Turunen & Leena Lehtonen Y-Foundation, Finland

2 Background from two perspectives National program for preventing homelessness NEA project Structure Aims Thoughts and Findings Questions

3 Zero tolerance for women s homelessness In 2016 increase in the number of homeless women Over 1500 single homeless women (over 400 long term homeless) and over 300 families Lack of information on the situation of homeless women ->Funding application together with a number of partners (coordinated by Y-Foundation) in 2017

4 About women on the streets I see women s homelessness somehow as a harsher phenomenon than men s. Some men still (at least at the beginning) have a kind of ethos of tough survivor, which is not often the case with women, who hardly ever are survivors of the streets. The subculture of homelessness is really hard for women and they have to harden themselves. In this subculture intoxicated women are easily exposed to sexual and other kind of abuse and violence. For some women the spiral of becoming marginalised and dependent of drugs is really fast. There can be pecking orders with the homeless and often women (of the couple) are not decision makers and don t have an equal status and therefore are often abused in the streets.

5 About stigma In our society women have been given a role of a mother and a carer and when being homeless these women are easily stigmatised as bad mothers or bad women. This is why I feel that for homeless women the fall and letting go happens very quickly. Many suffer from shame and quilt that are related to womanhood and motherhood. Many also feel that they look different to the masses and feel ashamed about that too.

6 About women s condition Women might find places to stay in return of sexual or house keeping favours. This is why women in low threshold services are often both socially and mentally in a very bad condition. Women often depend on violent or otherwise abusive men and often end up in this kind of relationships. In addition to the psychological burden, violence and maltreatment might hinder receiving services, in other words violence might result in eviction. Many have been abused since their childhood which then affects their self esteem as adults and choices they make. I am sorry to say that this often means that time after time they fall in love with rogues.

7 About working with homeless women As a social worker and a woman I often feel that meeting these women is more challenging than meeting homeless men. Female social worker might be harder and more humiliating for some homeless women to face. This is likely to be because of the cultural stigma in our society of a bad woman/mother and the shame that comes with it. Of the violent clients (not many, but still) have been mostly women. On the other had, I have met many women who wish to see a female social worker who they feel will understand their situation better.

8 About services and support Women should have their own low threshold services. On the other hand, unfortunately, we might face some problems of cohabiting of women living together. Sharing space seems to be challenging for women than for men. Women don t have as many services as men as the number of homeless men is bigger. This might results in inpractical housing. For example of crisis housing, some women might prefer to stay in abusive housing options rather than go to official housing that they see as safe. Abused women should have a place where they feel safe and welcome. They need help to deal with the feeling of shame, motherhood and womanhood. Appearance issues might feel secondary but they play a big role for example when meeting their children. I might be wrong but somehow I feel that permanent contact with workers are more meaningful for women than for men.

9 Action Plan for Preventing Homelessness in Finland (AUNE) The goal is to link the work on homelessness more extensively to the whole of the work on preventing social exclusion based on the Housing First principle. Aim is to continue to reduce homelessness. The objective will be achieved by: Strengthening the prevention of homelessness Preventing the recurrence of homelessness

10 NEA PROJECT Securing Housing for Women AIMS MAIN GOAL: ENDING WOMEN S HOMELESSNESS BY SECURING THEIR PATHS TO HOUSING REFORMING PROFESSONIALISM (new work methods, women specific work orientation) PROJECT COORDINATION: Y-FOUNDATION SUBPROJECTS: No Fixed Abode, Helsinki Deaconess Institute, The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters, Turku and Helsinki Mother and Child Home Associations, EJY Association, Blue Ribbon Foundation, A-Clinic Foundation SECURING LIVING IN OWN HOME STRENGTHENING EXPERTISE OF EXPERIENCE RAISING AWARENESS OF PHENOMENON (producing information and evaluation of effects) Multidisciplinary co-creation individual work, groups, communities, meeting places Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, Tampere city-specific plans Finnish Foundation for Supporting Ex-offenders, Monika Multicultural Women s Association, other organisations INCREASING SCATTERED HOUSING SOLUTIONS

11 Helsinki Mother and Child Home Association: families with addiction issues, parenthood SUB PROJECTS The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters: Influencing, producing information, supporting sub associations, training Turku Mother and Child Home Association: families with small children and victims of domestic violence A-Clinic/Völjy: meeting place for active iv drug users, harm reduction, outreach work No Fixed Abode: meeting point, group work, outreach work, experience expertise The Y-Foundation coordinating EJY: preventive work, combining housing, work and financial issues Helsinki Deaconess Institute: community living, work methods, evaluation of effects Finnish Foundation for Supporting Exoffenders: women prisoners Blue Ribbon Foundation: outreach work, pop up courses on housing CITIES: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa (capital area), Tampere and Turku Monika Multicultural Women s Association: multiculturalism, victims of domestic violence

12 Thoughts and findings Different frameworks: housing, substance abuse work ja family work Defining together women spesific work and how to secure housing. Co-creation Focusing on how instead of what Support person, relationship based on trust. Sensitivity, trauma oriented work, dialogue pedagogy and work with domestic violence. Children taken into care and child protection services Listening what women want

13 Thoughts and findings Trust first in Housing First? Flexible support Scattered housing or housing unit or something else? Safety

14 Questions How can we prevent women s homelessness? Ideas for intervention and support - who, when and where? Scattered housing, housing unit or something else? How to secure (and support) women s safety in housing?

15 Thank you! Leena Lehtonen Saija Turunen