As ever, this conference has been thought provoking and bursting at the seams with networking opportunities. It’s been a much-welcomed event in a space where inspiration literally bounced around via the sparkle of a glitterball! With 400 delegates coming together over three days, there were plenty of opportunities to network, hear about inspiring practice and reflect on how we continue to develop and improve our approach to ending homelessness.
With so many highlights it’s difficult to choose just one element. but one that particularly stood out for me was Housing First for Women.
We know that women’s experiences of homelessness, and the reasons they find themselves homeless, are often very different from men’s. Experiences of domestic abuse, trauma, exploitation, economic and financial abuse and other forms of gender-based violence can all play a significant role. If the causes and experiences are different, then our responses and solutions need to be different too.
The session provided a valuable opportunity to explore the considerations, learning and good practice developed in Reykjavik and Berlin, and the work that continues in both cities. It was particularly encouraging to hear how gender-specific approaches are being shaped to better understand and respond to women’s experiences, needs and circumstances.
I found the session both thought-provoking and inspiring. It challenged us to think about whether our current approaches are doing enough to recognise the specific experiences of women and how we can make Housing First work better for them.
In Scotland, we have a small but (hopefully) growing number of women-specific Housing First projects. There is clearly an opportunity to build on this work, learn from international examples and consider what more we can do to develop approaches that genuinely meet women’s needs.
For me, this session feels like a great starting point for our next steps. The conversations have been started, the learning has been shared, and there is real potential to turn that inspiration into action.
The conference was a reminder of the value of coming together, sharing experiences and learning from one another. Most importantly, it reinforced that Housing First must continue to evolve to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access a safe, secure home and the support they need to sustain it.
I am not leaving with an actual glitterball, but I am heading back to Homeless Network Scotland full of sparkle, reflection, inspiration and ready to explore how we can mirror some of the work taking place across the world.
—————————————————
About the Author:
Jules Oldham
Homeless Network Scotland