Homeless women often fleeing domestic abuse

'FOR MANY WOMEN, HOMELESSNESS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF VIOLENCE'

- By CARL EVE

A PLYMOUTH charity has highlighted how domestic abuse is one of the key drivers behind women finding themselves homeless.

It comes as figures reveal the number of women found sleeping rough in Plymouth has doubled.

Local homelessness charity Path has raised the issue of the often hidden link between domestic abuse and women's homelessness in the city and has urged local services and the public to recognise that leaving an abusive relationship all too often means entering into a housing crisis - and that for many women, homelessness is not just a result of poverty but a consequence of violence.

In July, Path coordinated Plymouth's Women's Homeless Census as part of Solace's national research initiative to capture the lived experiences of women facing housing insecurity and homelessness.

This marked the city's first participation in the census, alongside more than 80 local authorities across England, gathering vital insights into women's experiences of rough sleeping and hidden homelessness.

The findings revealed the complex realities of women's homelessness, including those fleeing abuse.