3.2. “They have a lot of mistrust of services” and other barriers to engagement

As a means of staying out of hostels and off the street women will stay in unsafe situations, often involving ‘survival sex’. This was also discussed in the workshop with Expert Citizens, and the lack of choice and other options was emphasised here; women are sexually exploited and controlled by men who offer them a roof.

“people will put them up for a price which usually involves them, you know, doing some sexual acts for people” (SH08 & SH09)

“Some of them have been involved in sex work, so again they are often not visible at night-time. They are often using survival sex, or you know sofa-surfing” (SH05)

A consequence of being on this constant uphill struggle with trauma is always feeling like you need to protect yourself because you are not safe; the devastating impact of complex trauma on your life, behaviour and sense of self-worth lays “down a road of complete and utter self-destruction”.

“just not feeling safe and consistently having to protect yourself and if you’re just in that kind of survival mode all of the time.” (SH03)

As the following participant highlighted, women may not actually be aware of or recall their complex traumas, but it can nevertheless manifest itself in her behaviour: “it causes deep set trauma which can cause chaos in their lives, it determines behaviour, it can put down a road of complete and utter selfdestruction because of their worthiness. You know, they don’t particularly value themselves that much because this is kind of how they see the world looking at them”. (SH07)

This also has a knock-on-effect on women’s ability and willingness to engage with and trust services, which is explored in the next theme.