'There is a distinct lack of homelessness services for women in Manchester.
When we talk about people affected by homelessness, we often immediately think about middle-aged men. Yet, homelessness affects women too and, often, by extension, their children. However, if the system expects those who are homeless to be men then the established support services will be male focused too. We know that homeless women and children have different needs compared to homeless men and the Women’s Homelessness Involvement Group (WHIG), which is part of the Manchester Homeless Partnership, aims to raise awareness of these challenges.
WHIG prioritises elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Through this approach, the group has identified key gaps in support for women experiencing homelessness in Manchester, which has informed their 2024 campaign Give The Mum A Chance. Comprised of three asks, the campaign aims to increase awareness and create system change.
The first ask of the campaign is for a safe, dedicated and inclusive space for women and children experiencing homelessness. This space would be in the form of a day centre, offering a social space, creche and support clinics surrounding housing, health and employment.
Secondly, the campaign advocates for more trauma-informed approaches across services, particularly around women who have had children removed. This ask calls for an increase in training focused on the trauma associated with child removal, as well as provisions for mothers who have experienced child removal. This support could be offered in the day centre, through advocacy workers and peer support sessions.
The third ask is to increase awareness of the gendered aspects of homelessness. Women experiencing homelessness often also face additional issues, which include but are not limited to: motherhood and child care, child removal, domestic abuse, safety concerns, and hygiene. The campaign aims to share this knowledge and create a network of likeminded people to challenge the current system which, due to its lack of specialist support for women, is setting them up to fail'. |