Why women’s homelessness needs a different response

Women experiencing homelessness are often less visible than men, but their needs can be just as urgent — and often more complex.

In London, around 16% of people sleeping rough are women, rising to around 20–22% in Westminster, where The Connection at St Martin’s is based. Yet homelessness services have historically been designed largely with men in mind.

For women, homelessness is closely linked to violence and trauma. Experiences of violence and domestic abuse are ‘near universal’ among women rough sleeping and it is estimated that 1 in 4 women have been sexually assaulted whilst sleeping rough.

To stay safe, many try to remain hidden — sleeping on night buses, in hospital waiting rooms or transport hubs rather than outside. As a result, women are often undercounted in official data and overlooked in service design.

At The Connection, we believe women deserve safe, specialist support that recognises these realities.

Creating a specialist service for women

In 2023, we started redeveloping our supported accommodation unit St Martin’s House as a specialist supported accommodation service for women. The aim is to provide a place of safety where women can build trusting relationships with staff, engage with support and move towards greater independence.

The model focuses on safety, stability and trauma-informed care. The service is staffed 24/7, all residents are women, and support is intensive and personalised. Staff work alongside a clinical psychologist and participate in reflective practice to ensure support is grounded in trauma-informed approaches.

To deliver this level of support, the physical environment also needed to change.

The original St Martin’s House building had limited communal space and few private areas where therapeutic work could take place. Through the 18 Keys campaign, launched in 2021 by The St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust, supporters helped transform the service.

Thanks to the campaign — and the generosity of individuals, charitable trusts and the 18 Keys committee — £2.2 million was raised to create Julia’s House, a new building providing additional accommodation and dedicated spaces for support and activities.

Residents moved into Julia’s House in December, creating a calm, light-filled environment designed with women’s wellbeing in mind.

What difference has it made?

Even in the first few months, the impact has been clear.

The new building provides residents with greater privacy, comfort and a sense of safety. Bright rooms, accessible facilities and peaceful shared spaces have helped create an environment where women can relax and rebuild confidence.

The space also allows a wider range of therapeutic and social activities. Residents now take part in sessions such as:

Communal areas give residents space to spend time together — watching TV, sharing meals or celebrating occasions — while still allowing them to step back if they need privacy.

For staff, dedicated meeting rooms mean more effective one-to-one support sessions and space for reflective practice, training and team meetings. As a result, engagement with support has increased and both resident and staff wellbeing have improved.

Looking ahead…

Women’s homelessness in London is rising. In 2024–25, 2,149 women were recorded sleeping rough, an increase of 15% on the previous year.

Yet women’s needs remain under-recognised. That’s why The Connection continues to advocate for change — from helping establish the women’s rough sleeping census to exploring new women-focused services across London.

Our focus on women is about addressing a longstanding gap in homelessness provision. By creating safe, specialist spaces like St Martin’s House and Julia’s House, we can help women rebuild their lives and move towards a more stable future.

With continued support, we hope to expand this work and ensure that women experiencing homelessness receive the care and safety they deserve.