finding home

advocating for femaleidentifying needs in chronic homelessness

This booklet is for educational purposes only and does not speak on behalf of any of the organizations mentioned for reference.

If you are currently struggling and in need of support, the map on the last page of this book will help you find services to assist your needs.

On any given night in the year 2021, roughly 9,846 individuals experienced homelessness in Colorado, increasing from the previous year by about 200 individuals. While unsheltered sleeping saw a decrease of 60 percent due to pandemic assistance, individuals who experienced chronic homelessness increased by 38 percent.1

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) updated the definition of chronic homelessness, defining it as “an individual experiencing continuous homelessness for longer than one year, or experiencing homeless episodes at least four times totaling the span of one year.” The episodes of homelessness do not have to be consecutive, but are counted within a three year period.2

The Denver Metro area saw a 45 percent increase in use of emergency shelters between 2020 and 2021.

What is Chronic Homelessness?

We know that homelessness in Denver is a concern; efforts in the last five years alone have proven that there is a want - and a need - for more effective resources in the community. But what does the homeless demographic look like in an urban setting?

The statistics below show some of the largest demographics in terms of homelessness visibility in the downtown metro area, according to The Common Sense Institute’s 2021 study “The Economic Footprint of Homelessness in Metro Denver.”

An estimated 30 percent of individuals facing homelessness were reported to struggle with substance abuse, while 36 percent struggled with long term mental health concerns. 68 percent of statistics counted towards homelessness were in Denver county.3 The demographic for sheltered and unsheltered chronically homeless individuals remains one of the highest in Denver’s statistics. But how can we identify the resources that women need and cater those resources to removing them from a homeless situation for good?

Struggle

Families with children

with substances Struggle with mental health

What causes women to hide when faced with homelessness?

When it comes to reporting female-identifying homelessness, it becomes difficult to capture the full scope of issues that correlate to their long-term challenges. Women are not utilizing outlets that could assist them in accessing resources - either due to emotional or external reasons. How can we diminish the obstacles that they may face when trying to access resources to help them regain their independence?

Transitional or permanent-support housing, job and education assistance, and healthcare services are all forms of support offered in the city of Denver, but are often directed more heavily towards different demographics that have higher visual rates of homelessness.

Female-identifying individuals face a variety of difficulties when attempting to access channels of support, such as social shaming, lack of safety, loss of autonomy, and improper availability for resources.4 These all contribute to them being unable to approach supportive services in a way that would assist in their independence and success.

So c ial

Shaming

Many women are shamed for being homeless - more so than men - and are afraid of utilizing resources as a result. This shame also reinforces their fear of friends and family finding out, pushing them to engage in unsafe hidden homelessness.

Women have increased risk for danger and lack of safety. Many reports include stalking, assault, and domestic violence from partners. The Colorado Coalition for Homelessness reported 32.3% of women had been assaulted while homeless in 2021.5

LackofSafety

Loss of Autonomy

Women struggling with homelessness have expressed concern over lack of autonomy and judgement when receiving resources or assistance from programs that are openly religiously or politically aligned, which creates unfair heirarchies.6

Women are often stuck traveling across town several times over to utilize resources that exist for them and cannot reach all of the locations within their limited business hours, often caused by lack of funding or reliable income.

What is needed to help protect support services in Denver?

One of the advantages of the modern social climate is that women are gaining greater access to independence through education, jobs, and the opportunity to vote. However, many resources that currently exist to help women break out into these markets and gain more independence are geared more heavily towards women with children or older women, and not single female-identifying individuals.

Access to education, job assistance, and healthcare such as psychiatric and reproductive services help assist women in the most vital areas of need, covering many of the social aspects of life that are important for independence. Housing assistance, whether that be through transitional or permanent support, gives female-identifying individuals a safe place to sleep and create a sanctuary for themselves, allowing them to focus on different aspects of life without anxiety.

Housing assistance comes with additional benefits, such as community outreach and public seminars that help teach new skills and connect with other members in the community coming from a variety of backgrounds. These spaces offer women a chance to reconnect with individuals who have and have not experienced homelessness, regaining confidence through common ground and shared space.

What can we do next to drive change and sustain support?

There are many programs in the Denver Metro area and across the nation that are successful housing and support programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Many of these places could use support - either through volunteer work or money donations. If you find a program, housing facility, or outreach center that you admire, consider volunteering time to help with their facilities and upkeep, or make a small donation to help keep them going.

Additionally, legistative support from the government helps secure consistent funding each year and helps these programs to pay for their housing and community spaces. voting for laws and regulations that help individuals from criminalization of homelessness and displacement makes it easier for them to access resources and support to get back on their feet.

The work needed to help maintain a safe and livable space for individuals experiencing homelessness is no small task, but with help from communities and advocacy, we can minimize the risks associated with homelessness to create better outlets for support and independence in the future.

1299 N. Knox Ct. Denver, CO 80204 (303) 534 - 5411

1649 N. Downing St. Denver, CO 80218 (303) 318 - 9959

1535 High St. Denver, CO 80218 (303) 321 - 4198

1130 Park Ave. W. Denver, CO 80205 (303) 293 - 2217

3264 Larimer St. Unit D Denver, CO 80205 (720) 987 - 6133

2844 Lawrence St. Denver, CO 80205 (303) 296 - 6686

Endnotes

1 United States, Census Bureau. “SOH: State and Coc Dashboards.” National Alliance to End Homelessness. US Department of Housing & Urban Development, US Census Bureau, July 27, 2021. https://endhomeless ness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-home lessness-dashboards/?State=Colorado.

2 “Definition of Chronic Homelessness.” HUD Exchange, 2022. https:// www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/coc-esg-virtual-binders/ coc-esg-homeless-eligibility/definition-of-chronic-homelessness/.

3 Dickhoner, Brenda, and Lili Valis. “The Economic Footprint of Home lessness in Metro Denver.” Common Sense Institute, August 2021.

4 Bullen, Jane. “Chronic Homelessness - What Women’s Experiences Can Tell Us.” Housing Studies,2021, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.20 21.1941791.

5 CCHLastingSolutions. “Education Series March 2022, Women and Homelessness: Causes, Supports, and Solutions.” YouTube. YouTube, March 19, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPiGa2ZHneg&t=1s.

6 Zlotnick, Cheryl, Tammy Tam, and Kimberly Bradley. “Long-Term and Chronic Homelessness in Homeless Women and Women with Children.” So cial Work in Public Health 25, no. 5 (2010): 470–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371910903178797.