International Women’s Day takes place on 8 March every year. It’s a chance for us all to reflect on the achievements we’ve made towards equality while continuing to make progress.
This year’s theme is Accelerate Action. This couldn’t come at a more fitting time as we have recently accelerated our action tackling women’s homelessness by beginning the building phase of 18 Keys!
Research work has shown that one of the biggest barriers to resolving women’s homelessness is not having any safe accommodation to refer women to. We have responded to this by developing 18 Keys, a project between The Connection at St Martin’s and St Martin’s Trust to create a sanctuary for women rough sleeping in London.
The building is currently home to 15 women all with their own self-contained flats. On-site support is available 24/7 and staff use a trauma-informed approach to engage residents, building relationships and trust with no time constraints to prioritise wellbeing above all else. This is something many will be experiencing for the first time.
Last month work started on-site to demolish the old uninhabitable garages at the end of the garden. This will create space for a brand new building which will have two new flats and a communal area for residents. Every aspect of the redevelopment will help women find the time, space and support they need to recover and become independent again.
This is one of very few women-only specialist accommodation services in London.
We know that women experience homelessness differently from men.
Women who sleep rough are more likely to be subject to sexual violence and abuse than their male counterparts. Many try to manage the risks by sleeping in the daytime, moving around at night or sofa-surfing in dangerous environments. All of these factors mean they are often ‘hidden’ from data collection (which informs how we tackle homelessness) and outreach teams who could support them.
To read more about women’s homelessness, click here.
Women who are sleeping rough routinely tell us that they feel unsafe in mixed-sex, male-dominated homelessness services and are at heightened risk of exploitation and violence during periods of homelessness. They therefore find women-only spaces really valuable.
This was the case for Renee.
She first visited The Connection on a cold, snowy Wednesday in January with a friend; “we heard about the women’s morning and we’re like ‘oh, this is amazing.’ All of the support and just the atmosphere.”
Renee has continued coming to the women’s morning on Wednesdays and says it’s been a huge help – she’s seen a doctor for the first time in years, met other women in her situation and Connection staff have found her a place in a hostel while we plan her future together.
She says “it kind of feels like an unofficial home, because it’s seeing me through this whole period. It’s cool to see the same people every day, staff and the fellow rough sleepers. And I think just knowing this will always be here feels reassuring amidst all the changes that happen as you’re trying to get back on your feet.”
Renee has nothing but praise for Connection staff, particularly Laurie who she describes as her MVP – “I don’t think I would be on this trajectory to stability, let alone have the safety that I had, if it weren’t for how proactive Laurie has been.
I think it feels more personal than it’s felt at other places. I feel very fortunate that the Lord brought The Connection into my life, and it’s been like this non-stop domino effect – not only support, but community.”