Women Rough Sleepers in Europe : Homelessness and Victims of Domestic Abuse

Women’s rough sleeping is a major issue across Europe and is especially problematic within the current economic climate. Based on a European Union DAPHNE III-funded project, this important book tells the story of the women and organisations that took part in the study. Revealing a number of truths about women’s rough sleeping across Europe, the authors argue that there is little or no specific provision for this vulnerable and hard to reach group. The book focuses on the adoption of effective policy, strategies and services to meet the needs of homeless women, specifically women rough sleepers who are the victims of domestic abuse. It will be a valuable resource for academics and students of criminology, social policy, law, social work and probation, as well as housing/homelessness practitioners, policy makers, local authorities and NGOs. WOMEN ROUGH SLEEPERS IN EUROPE Contents List of figures and tables Figures Tables Glossary About the authors Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Getting below the surface of women’s rough sleeping Methodology 2. Towards a theory of women’s homelessness: social dysfunction theory Current theories of homelessness Towards a theory of women’s homelessness Late modernity and homelessness Social dysfunction theory Causal mechanisms: the ‘why’ factor Experience: the ‘what‘ factor Impact: the ‘how’ factor Conclusion 3. A European perspective on women’s rough sleeping UK literature review Predictors of rough sleeping among women Cultural factors among women rough sleepers UK legislation Swedish literature review Predictors of rough sleeping among Swedish women Cultural factors among Swedish women rough sleepers Swedish legislation Spanish (Andalusian) literature review Predictors of rough sleeping among women in Spain Cultural factors among Spanish women rough sleepers Spanish legislation Hungarian literature review Predictors of rough sleeping among Hungarian women Cultural factors among Hungarian women rough sleepers Hungarian legislation Conclusion 4. Analysing and understanding the problem: women rough sleepers’ stories Women’s themed narratives from the UK, Hungary, Spain and Sweden Narrative Narrative Narrative Narrative Access to services: UK women Narrative Narrative 5. Analysing and understanding the problem: service providers’ stories Service provider organisations Knowledge Knowledge: training specific to women rough sleepers Knowledge: the extent of the problem of women rough sleepers who have experienced domestic abuse Knowledge: services available for women rough sleepers Knowledge: legislation and policies specific to women rough sleepers Delivery Evidence of local strategies Delivery: working to professional guidelines Delivery: evidence of multi-agency working Delivery: evidence of preventive measures Delivery: evidence of ‘good practice’ Impact Impact: operational and policy suggestions Impact: evidence of women rough sleepers falling through the social safety net Impact: what would help bring women rough sleepers back into mainstream society? Impact: general issues 6. Explaining women’s rough sleeping Demographics and characteristics of women rough sleepers in the study Women’s experience of access to services Summary of the women rough sleeper data Data from service providers Reported characteristics of women rough sleepers by service providers Training specific to working with women rough sleepers Gaps in provision reported by service providers Operational and policy suggestions Summary of service provider data 7. Challenges and recommendations Overall findings from interviews with service providers Overall findings from the Interviews with women rough sleepers Comparative analysis of women rough sleeper samples Summary The European Union Concluding recommendations Key messages References Research instruments used in the study Index This book draws on data from an EU-funded study that looked at homeless women sleeping on the streets across the European Union. Arguing that there are currently little or no specific provisions for helping this hard-to-reach group, the authors offer a close look at what effective policies might be deployed, and, in particular, how governments might address the more complicated needs of homeless women who have suffered from domestic abuse This important book reveals a number of truths about women's rough sleeping across Europe and argues for the adoption of effective policy, strategies and services to meet the needs of homeless women and the specific problem of women rough sleepers who are the victims of domestic abuse The authors reveal a number of truths about women's rough sleeping across Europe and argue for the adoption of effective policy, strategies and services to meet the needs of homeless women and the specific problem of women rough sleepers who are the victims of domestic abuse. This important book reveals a number of truths about women's rough sleeping across Europe and argues for the adoption of effective policy, strategies and services to meet the needs of homeless women, and specifically women rough sleepers who are the victims of domestic abuse