For Women, Life Is Even Harder on the Streets

Homelessness is not an easy path for anyone. Aside from the exposure to elements, trauma, fear and hunger, there are the health risks, the danger on the streets, and the stigmatism of being homeless. For many, there are also issues involving mental health and substance abuse addiction.

For homeless women, these issues are only exasperated. Just being female introduces these and a whole new set of risk factors. And they’re affecting more women than many people realize.

As an advocate for the homeless — and specifically at-risk single mothers — when I come across statistics about this population, I’m compelled to share them.

For example, it’s been reported that:

• Women comprise almost 40% of the homeless population.
• 47% of homeless women meet the criteria for clinical depression — a percentage twice as high as that of women in the general population. This, of course, affects not only women’s ability to attain employment and find a home, but also meet the demands of daily living.
• Approximately 30% of homeless women have documented mental health issues, and 50% struggle with substance abuse.
• 25% of homeless women report that the reason for their homelessness is domestic violence. They know they’re unsafe on the streets, but they know they’d be in even more danger if they stayed where they were.
• There is a higher number of unwanted pregnancies for homeless women than for the general population. Once pregnant, homeless women are three times more likely to have a preterm delivery and seven times more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby. From here, you can just imagine what their access to health care looks like.
• 85% of homeless families are headed by single women.
• More than half of homeless mothers do not have a high school diploma, which makes it even more challenging to get a job. Then, even if they can land employment, how do they meet the next obstacle, child care?

Beyond the magnitude of these numbers is the realization of what these women face than their male counterparts simply don’t:

• The cost of menstruating. Government funding often doesn’t provide for feminine hygiene products. As a man, I don’t think about the cost of a box of tampons, but women don’t have that choice.
• The cost of child care. Affording day care and babysitters is taxing for all families, but for homeless moms, it’s practically impossible. And, as mentioned, the majority of homeless families are headed by women, so the picture becomes even more bleak.
• The cost of safety. Adding to this all is the pure fear of just being a woman out there, on the streets. Shelters are frequently male-dominated, and women are often targets for gender-based crime and violence. Many homeless women may indeed be fleeing domestic violence situations, but all homeless women can find themselves fleeing situations involving rape, assault, theft, and harassment.

Clearly, there is a need for greater awareness, understanding and action.

I share these insights because I believe we, as humans, all share common emotions — fear, disappointment, stress and trauma. I’m not homeless, and chances are, you aren’t either. But my experiences, and my own journey toward recovery, lend a perspective to the issue of homelessness. And, your perspectives — based on your own background and circumstances — affect how you may see this issue and how you choose to react to it. Together, we all must take in this world through our own eyes and do what we can to make it a better place.

I talk a lot about acceptance, self-love, and self-care — of overcoming shame and finding courage to become the best version of ourselves. For me, these attributes apply whether you’re struggling with addiction or trying to find a place to live and for your children to thrive.

They are things we all value, and things we all need.

They are things we all value, and things we all need.