Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Raising awareness of women’s homelessness, domestic violence and trauma
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Presentation given by Anna Page and Mimi Butt St Mungo’s Broadway, UK, at the 2015 FEANTSA Policy Conference, "Homelessness, A Local Phenomenon with a European Dimension: Key Steps to Connect Communities to Europe", Paris City Hall, 19 June 2015
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Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Raising awareness of women’s homelessness, domestic violence and trauma
- 1. Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Supporting women 1 Anna Page and Mimi Butt St Mungo’s Broadway
- 2. 2 Objectives • Share impact and learning from Rebuilding Shattered Lives campaign • Outline how St Mungo’s Broadway are responding to homeless women’s experiences of domestic violence • Identify challenges and opportunities posed by national and local policy in supporting homeless women who are victims of domestic violence
- 3. Homeless women in Europe 3 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Czech Republic (2012) Denmark (2013) Finland (2013) France (2012) Germany (2013) Hungary (2011) Ireland (2014) Italy (2011) Netherlands (2012) Poland (2011) Portugal (2013) Spain (2012) Sweden (2011) UK (2015) Percentage Gender distribution amongst homeless people Men Women Sources: All countries except UK: Busch-Geertsema et al (2014) Extent and Profile of Homelessness in European Member States: A Statistical Update. UK: Homeless Link (2015) Single homelessness support in England: Annual Review 2015
- 4. Different experiences of homelessness • Evidence from across Europe suggests women are: – more likely to make use of informal arrangements with friends, family, acquaintances – Less likely to use homelessness services, may avoid them – More likely to be homeless due to domestic or gender-based violence Source: Busch-Geertsema et al (2014) Extent and Profile of Homelessness in European Member States: A Statistical Update 4
- 5. Women’s experiences of homeless services • 30% of people using UK homelessness services are women, but only 11% have women-specific provision – a system traditionally geared towards men • 2009 St Mungo’s research showed women were arriving at our services with more complex needs and were doing significantly worse than men in our hostels • Reflected in ongoing feedback from sector on need for more training on women’s homelessness • St Mungo’s Broadway response: Women’s strategy and Rebuilding Shattered Lives campaign 5
- 6. The lived experience Mimi’s story 6
- 7. Rebuilding Shattered Lives • Launched June 2012 • Aims: Raise awareness of women’s homelessness Showcase good practice and innovation Improve services and policy for the future • Gathered evidence gathering across 9 themes • 464 members from 3 continents • 221 submissions from practitioners and women with experience of homelessness • Final report March 2014 7
- 8. Key findings • Trauma and Abuse – Experiences rooted in traumatic childhoods, gender based violence • Complex and interrelated needs – Found with women across sectors/services • Relationships with children – Loss and separation key barriers to recovery • Stigma and Shame – Judged by societal expectations of women • Access to Services – Missed opportunities 8
- 9. Trauma and abuse Trauma definition • DSM5 (classification of psychiatric diagnosis) – “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation.” – Can be direct experience or witness – Causes significant distress or impairment in the individual’s social interactions, capacity to work, or other important areas of functioning. • Trauma can be triggered by a single event, or can be enduring, ongoing (complex trauma) 9
- 10. Trauma and abuse • Sex and gender definitions • Sex: Refers to the biological differences between men and women which are universal and do not change. A person’s sex is determined through their genetic makeup and chromosomes. • Gender: A socially constructed system of classification that ascribes qualities of masculinity and femininity to people. It also includes expectations held about the characteristics, roles, responsibilities and behaviours of both women and men. These attributes are learned or acquired during socialization as a member of a given community, can change over time, and vary between cultures. 10
- 11. Trauma and abuse Trauma and gender • As children, boys and girls suffer similar rates of abuse – Girls - sexual abuse – Boys - emotional neglect or physical abuse • Adolescence – Young men - people who dislike or hate them – Young women – relationships; from the person to whom she is saying, “I love you.” • Adulthood – Men - combat or being a victim of crime – Women – relationship; the person to whom she is saying “I love you.” Source: Stephanie Covington, 2014 11
- 12. Trauma and abuse 12 “Women’s homelessness is so often invisible. I have no contact with my family – I had a very traumatic childhood and don’t want to see them. I did a lot of sofa surfing after I left my violent partner. But then I ran out of friends and became homeless.” St Mungo’s client “I was living with a man who was violent and so felt more safe and secure sleeping in a bin shed on my own than staying there. When you’ve got nothing, nothing matters.” St Mungo’s client
- 13. 13 “Id lost my house ... due to not paying rent, I sleept in ... bushes, garages and shop floor ways it was here that I found crack, what a 1st time buzz, then you crave it so bad and have no cash, I was begging on the streets, on trains and selling sex to men, in the edn st mungos found me a perswaded me to move to a hostel, I was reluctant as it would mean I ws further away from the dealers...my health started to inprove dramticly after a while I started seeing a drug worker...i have been clean for 11 years now I have a house with a garden and 3 more children that live with me...i owe my life to st mungos.” Eviction Debt Drugs Rough sleeping Prostitution Health Children Complex and interrelated needs Relationships
- 14. Rebuilding Shattered Lives recommendations 14 Service responses National leadership Leadership in local authorities Commissioners as champions Early intervention • Services based on principles of holistic, gender sensitive support for complex needs • Ministerial leadership and coordination • Publish data on women’s homelessness • Senior lead for women and homelessness • Coordination, strategy and monitoring • Test and develop innovative approaches • Ensure choice between women only and mixed provision • Parenting support, perinatal interventions • Early identification across public services
- 15. Holistic, gender sensitive support for complex needs Women only support and space Trauma informed responses Staff training Partnership working Building confidence and motivation Client involvement Peer support Supporting women with children 15 SERVICE PRINCIPLES
- 16. Chrysalis, 3 stage exiting prostitution pathway 16 Phase one – security, stability and intensive support • 18 bed hostel • Intensive support including around substance use and mental health issues. • Specially trained psychotherapists to help the women deal with the ongoing trauma of experiences • Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) project, which creates an emotionally safe environment. Staff reflective practice Phase two – reflection and moving towards independence • Semi- independent abstinent project • Helps women develop independent living skills and engage with local services Phase three – living in the community • Commonw eal Housing transitional flats and floating support
- 17. Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Policy impact Created debate in UK parliament • House of Lords debates • Parliamentary Questions • Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness • APPG on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis • Private meeting with Housing Minister • Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party • Launch event with government and opposition speakers 17
- 18. Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Policy impact • Continued government interest in women’s homelessness – UK government 2015-17 capital funding programme: “Funded hostels should provide for the different needs of male and female homeless people.” – Department for Communities and Local Government interest in taking forward work on women and homelessness 18
- 19. Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Impact on public awareness • Increased public awareness through media coverage, reaching media coverage, reaching a combined potential audience of almost 8 million people 19
- 20. 20
- 21. Building awareness internally • New women’s psychotherapy service • Children and Family support service • Internal and external training courses on supporting women’s recovery • Pan-London women’s outreach network • Working groups on women’s health inequalities and access to training and employment • Women’s Recovery Conference • 250+ women receiving small grants to increase wellbeing or meet ambitions • Women’s client involvement group 21
- 22. Improved outcomes for women Outcomes Star averages for women increased in every area from 2013/14 to 2014/15, apart from substance use which remained consistent. In 2014/15, 91% of female clients were satisfied with the service provided by St Mungo's Broadway overall, compared to 87% in 2013/14. 89% of female clients agreed that St Mungo's Broadway understands their needs compared to 87% in 2013/14. 22
- 23. Lived experience How is this making a difference to people working in our services? 23
- 24. Building awareness externally UK • Over 60 people working in UK homelessness services trained in Brighton, London and Manchester in partnership with Homeless Link, forthcoming session in Liverpool • Reciprocal training with AVA, The Havens and Respect • Joint presentations at UK conferences Ireland • Training on women’s recovery with Simon Community - Over 30 professionals trained in Cork, forthcoming session in Dublin • Conference speech at Simon Community annual conference • Interviews for Irish media – RTE • Contributing to Irish toolkit on working with homeless women Czech Republic • 3 year exchange programme with Jako Doma including visits to share good practice, training - EU DAPHNE funded 24
- 26. Challenges and opportunities in national and local policy 26 Challenges: Demand • Increasing homelessness • Welfare reform • Still a hidden and underreported group • More women with complex needs • More young homeless women Challenges: Supply • Pressure on local budgets, cuts to services • Supporting women with the most complex needs: whose responsibility? Who pays? • Making the case: need for better data and evidence • Service coordination Opportunities? • Increasing political profile of tackling violence against women and girls in the UK, is this reaching women who are homeless? • Increasing government recognition of complex needs • Diversification of funding?
- 27. THANK YOU Anna Page anna.page@mungosbroadway.org.uk Ambreen Butt ambreen.butt@mungosbroadway.org.uk 27
Editor's Notes
- Themes Housing & homelessness Domestic abuse & sexual violence Children & families Drugs & alcohol Criminal justice Health & wellbeing Childhood trauma Employment & skills Involvement in prostitution
- Complex trauma
- Recommendation 1: Services working with women who are homeless or at risk should be based on principles of holistic, gender sensitive support for complex needs Recommendation 2: The Minister for Women and Equalities should hold relevant government bodies to account for preventing and tackling women’s homelessness Recommendation 3: The Minister for Women and Equalities should be added to the membership of the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness to ensure that it expressly considers women’s homelessness The Ministerial Working Group should regularly publish data of the women’s homelessness, setting a benchmark against which change can be measured. Leadership in local authorities Recommendation 4: Each Local Authority should identify a senior member of staff to lead on women and homelessness, including improving and coordinating service provision and strategy, and monitoring progress on ending women’s homelessness Preventing missed opportunities for help Recommendation 5: Local Authorities should ensure organisations that come into contact with vulnerable women recognise the risks of homelessness and are equipped to provide, or signpost to, preventative support This includes specialist services working with those with mental health problems, experiencing domestic violence, or leaving prison for example. However, mainstream services such as GPs, family services and housing associations can also play a crucial role in prevention. Commissioners as champions of innovative services Recommendation 6: Innovative approaches to tackling women’s homelessness should be identified, tested and developed, specifically lead practitioner approaches; multi agency case management; and cross boundary initiatives Recommendation 7: Commissioners must ensure that local provision gives women a choice between women only or mixed services Recommendation 8: Commissioners should invest in cost benefit analysis of services aimed at preventing or resolving women’s homelessness, and of women only services in particular Getting responses right in childhood It is clear that many of the problems that lead to homelessness begin in childhood. More support for early intervention programmes is vital. Recommendation 9: The government should ensure that the Troubled Families Programme addresses the needs of girls who are at risk of homelessness in adulthood, identifying girls who need support This should include longitudinal research to assess the longer term outcomes for girls and women. Recommendation 10: Access to parenting support and perinatal interventions which address the root causes of homelessness should be more widely available to families most at risk
- Recommendation 1: Services working with women who are homeless or at risk should be based on principles of holistic, gender sensitive support for complex needs Services that work with homeless or otherwise vulnerable women should incorporate the following features. These apply to both women only and mixed services, and to the full range of sectors covered in this report. 1. Women only support and space: Including women’s projects, women’s groups within mixed services and access to female staff. Particularly important for women who have experienced gender based violence. 2. Psychologically informed responses which recognise trauma: Including access to counselling, supportive key working and peer support groups to address past and current trauma, including around past abuse or loss of children. 3. Staff training to enable gendered responses: Training on the specific challenges women often face such as domestic violence, sexual exploitation or family and children issues. 4. Partnership working to address multiple support needs: Services working with a range of other services including mental health, substance use, criminal justice and social services in order to meet the full range of women’s needs 5. Building confidence and motivation: ‘Pre engagement’, the steps that help women feel safe, confident and ready to move forward with their lives. Often needed before hard outcomes such as work and resettlement can be attempted. 6. Client involvement: Including women specific opportunities. To give women a voice to determine how and what services should be delivered. 7. Peer Support: Support from others who have been though similar experiences and can share, advise and inspire. 8. Supporting women with children: Services should provide access to childcare and facilities for children to visit where possible; advocacy, psychological and emotional support is needed through adoption proceedings and to help deal with the loss of children.
- Judith Herman’s Stages of Recovery (1992): 1. Establishing safety 2. Reconstructing the traumatic story 3. Restoring the connection between the survivor and his/her community. Holistic services and counselling put in place to help the woman process traumas. Sensory activities can activate different parts of the brain and help move focus away from trauma response. We also try to nurture the areas where a woman can function to a high level, achieve a guaranteed outcome in order to increase the moments where she can feel rewarded.
- Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness (May) The report recommended that the Minister for Women should attend the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness (MWG), and that the group should specifically consider the needs of homeless women. We were pleased to be invited to present the report to the May session of the MWG. Unfortunately, a ministerial reshuffle shortly before the meeting meant that the new Minister for Women was not available to attend. We refined the recommendations for the group, focusing on asks for specific departments. We asked DCLG to publish data on women’s homelessness. We produced a sample report of what this could look like for the working group, and officials are considering whether this will be possible. We recommended that DH should ensure the new capital funding for hostel refurbishment helps homelessness services to provide gender sensitive support for complex needs. We are hopeful that the forthcoming prospectus for the next round of capital funding will include reference to this. We also recommended that the Home Office should ensure the UK Government recognises prostitution as violence against women. We are currently waiting for each department’s individual response to our recommendations. APPG on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis (May) We were also invited to present to the APPG on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis in May. Many thanks to Davina and Sophie for joining us in this presentation. The report was well received by the APPG, and there was an excellent discussion from the stakeholders and women with personal experience of the issues being discussed. The co-chairs Lord Adebowale and David Burrowes MP agreed to write to write to both the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Women raising the issues from the report, and to return to the topic in the future to see what progress is made. We are currently waiting for a response to these letters. Meeting with Housing Minister (June) We met with Housing Minister Kris Hopkins at the end of June to discuss a number of issues and went over the recommendations to publish analysis of the level of women’s homelessness and to fund research into the costs and benefits of women only homelessness services. We will continue to raise these recommendations in our discussions with the Housing Minister and his officials. Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party (July) We were invited to present the findings of Rebuilding Shattered Lives to the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party earlier this month. Again, the report was very well received. We made two specific recommendations to the Labour Party on top of those contained in the report and made to the Ministerial Working group: That the Labour Party establishes an inquiry to gather evidence on how to tackle women’s homelessness. A call to all MPs to raise the issue of women’s homelessness in their constituencies, inquiring about levels of women’s homelessness in their area and what is being done to prevent, identify and address women’s homelessness On this latter recommendation, the group were very positive, and said that it may be appropriate to hold an inquiry if Labour wins the general election next year. In the meantime, they would look to try and include a commitment to address the issues we raised in the Labour Party General Election manifesto. Our two proposals for the manifesto are: (i) an inquiry is established as recommended above. This would focus on the policy recommendations in order to build on our previous work; and (ii) the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness continues and that the Minister for Women joins the group as a permanent member. If any of you have any comments or suggestions on further or amended recommendations for the manifesto they would be welcome. House of Lords - Short Debate on women with multiple and complex needs Following a visit to our North London Women's Hostel and the London Recovery College, Baroness Tyler tabled a debate in the House of Lords to challenge the Government on the response of local services to women with multiple and complex needs including homelessness, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and physical and mental health problems. Baroness Tyler (Lib Dem), Baroness Thornton (Labour) and Baroness Armstrong (Labour) quoted extensively during the debate from the Rebuilding Shattered Lives report. Baroness Tyler called for a more joined-up approach across government in meeting the needs of people with multiple needs. Baroness Armstrong called the report "a significant piece of work" and Baroness Thornton, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister, said "this is a long-term issue and therefore not only this Government will need to resolve it. My Government will also need to address it next year." Baroness Williams of Trafford responded on behalf of the Government. She spoke about government funding for homelessness prevention, the Troubled Families programme, STRIVE (our pre-employment programme) and domestic violence support services. She said the Minister for Housing had invited the Minister for Women to be part of the group considering the report and that the Government absolutely agree that homelessness services need to be more than just about providing accommodation. The Hansard report of the debate is here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/140626-gc0002.htm Parliamentary questions Julian Huppert MP (Liberal Democrat) asked Kris Hopkins about publishing the number of women who are homeless – the various sources of this information were outlined. He also asked what was being done to tackle women’s homelessness. Sarah Champion MP (Labour) also asked similar questions. The Housing Minister responded by outlining the work being carried out to tackle homelessness generally. Luciana Berger MP (Labour) asked the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the mental health of women. [190849]. The Minister, Norman Lamb, responded by referring her to the maternal mental health action plan, ‘Closing the Gap’. Media The report was generally very well received, and attracted a number of media mentions in the Independent, Guardian, Community Care, International Business Times and LocalGov.co.uk The Ministerial Working Group meeting was covered in 24 Dash. Our Chief Executive, Howard Sinclair, has also written an essay on women’s homelessness for a pamphlet being published by Commonweal Housing today.
- Highlights from Year 4 include: A Women’s Recovery Conference held to launch the year four action plan attended by over 100 staff and clients. The day included the showing of a film made by residents from our North London Women’s Project and training presentations on self harm, domestic violence and exiting prostitution support. Four Women’s Grants Panels held and over 250 women receiving financial support to increase wellbeing or meet ambitions. Individual grants have included transport costs to visit children and family, course fees, laptops and equipment for college or to set up businesses. Groups and social enterprises established included a women’s multi-media project, gardening enterprise, jewellery co-operative and yoga group. Establishment of a Children and Family support service, including training for staff on contact, loss and reconnection, case advice on 92 cases to-date, factsheets and parenting classes for our clients- see feedback below. A women’s psychotherapy service established including increased access to therapy for our women clients and psycho-educational groups on women and trauma. Internal working groups on women’s health inequalities and access to training and employment set up. A Women’s employment and training fair held as a result for homeless women across London, attended by over 80 women who met employers, training providers and accessed workshops on areas such as self esteem and setting up a business. Training courses on supporting women’s recovery held internally for staff and volunteers and across the UK in partnership with Homeless Link to disseminate our learning. Presentations and dissemination of our Rebuilding Shattered Lives Report on women’s homelessness made to parliamentary, policy and practitioner events across the UK, in Ireland, Prague and the US. The Outside in women’s client involvement group re-established, held monthly and well attended by female clients across the organisation. A women’s outreach network established, hosted by St Mungo’s Broadway but attended by outreach workers and commissioners from across London. Homeless Link training, delivered in Brighton, London and Manchester, Liverpool soon. Every session 15 people, done 4 for Homeless link, Ireland - training for Simon Community in Cork and Dublin soon – 30 people Ireland spoke at Simon Community conference and interviews for RTE Irish Media. Prague – St Mungo’s Broadway 4 visits over three years and reciprocal visits Sharing good practice around women’s homeleesnsess - most recently tauma and LBT women Recovery College, set up social enterprises with Jako Doma EU DAPHNE funding AVA training – multiple needs summit – AVA, SMB and Clinks join workshop Internal work – working with AVA, The Havens (sexual assault centres) – reciprocal training. Eg ES at Haven conference, attended by lots of police RESPECT – more work with perpetrators, training this month on how we manage risk and refer people to perpetrator programmes. AVA – complicated matters toolkit and e-learning on mental health, substance use and DV – our staff are using, ES promotes in her training. We’re contributing to Irish toolkit on working with homeless women