Since the 1980’s, studies have indicated that gender-specific programming is critical to effective outcomes for women. Rather than designing programs on a ‘one size fits all basis’ with research based on studies of the male homeless population, a more gender specific focus is now being recognized as appropriate to address the special needs of women.
Programs, like ours, that adopt a non-institutional approach to homeless services have been found to be the most successful in reaching, engaging and changing the lives of homeless women. They focus on the importance of a warm, casual, non-institutional environment to engage the homeless into services. They rely on self-help and self-empowerment. They often emphasize on engaging and mobilizing women’s strengths while empowering them.
A supportive environment, caring staff, and flexible structure is crucial to engaging women who have a more complex history with victimization, fear, distrust of others and mental health problems. This type of environment encourages community and involvement and fosters respect in showing that the staff and volunteers value the client’s opinions, feelings, and desires. Comprehensive services and treatment must be based on understanding the context and needs of women’s daily lives. Such services:
Our programs afford women and youth a unique window of opportunity to help resolve trauma and create nurturing, healthy attachments so critical to healing, developing resilience and building the foundation for long term stability.
Our education and employment programs empower women, youth and children of all ages to succeed academically and in the work world.
Our research, policy and public education initiatives raise awareness on the special needs of sheltered women and children, with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by racial, ethnic, gender and socio-economic inequities and further marginalized by homelessness.
Activities such as art, yoga, and meditation, are critical for women and children experiencing homelessness to heal as they provide a safe and supportive environment to explore emotions, release stress, and connect with others.
Our programs and holistic services are designed to afford homeless LGBTQIA+ adults and youth a safe, supportive and nurturing environment.
Our programs afford women and youth a unique window of opportunity to help resolve trauma and create nurturing, healthy attachments so critical to healing, developing resilience and building the foundation for long term stability.
Our education and employment programs empower women, youth and children of all ages to succeed academically and in the work world.
Our research, policy and public education initiatives raise awareness on the special needs of sheltered women and children, with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by racial, ethnic, gender and socio-economic inequities and further marginalized by homelessness.
Activities such as art, yoga, and meditation, are critical for women and children experiencing homelessness to heal as they provide a safe and supportive environment to explore emotions, release stress, and connect with others.
Our programs and holistic services are designed to afford homeless LGBTQIA+ adults and youth a safe, supportive and nurturing environment.
