Improvements for the future

made to women’s lives, but from everything we have heard during the interviews and workshops, this intervention has been very well received.

That the women’s project, and Housing First as a service, did what they said they would do was also considered important in building trust with women customers; this was contrasted with an experience in the group of being offered an alarm by social services, but then never receiving it.

Given that trust can take a long time to build with the women, the short term funding situation of the women’s worker project, Housing First more generally and indeed wider services, was criticised.

Improvements for the future

Again, the workshop ended with discussion about what is needed in the future. As the speech bubbles opposite show, much of this centred on improving access and visibility of services and support for women. The need for ‘safe spaces’ throughout the city (and not just Hanley) was emphasised. These spaces need to be publicised (e.g., a sign in the window) because not everyone will know what is available where. It was highlighted that these spaces could be small rooms in the backs of existing places, just somewhere you can shut the door and be safe from whatever is out there for that person. It was also suggested that these spaces should not be intended for one specific purpose (e.g., a woman fleeing domestic violence, or a man having a panic attack) – both need a safe space.

‘Safe spaces’ that are accessible throughout the Huge increase in city outreach work –services need to be visible Women’s health services van

More awareness –everyone is only a trauma away or a pay check away

Linked to points mentioned above about the need for service to also be more visible, more outreach work with women was considered essential. One specific suggestion put forward was for a women’s health services van, to offer smear tests, breast exams, and contraception.

In relation to developing ‘buy in’ from organisations, it was recommended to build awareness that ‘everyone is only a trauma away or a pay check away’ from

experiencing homelessness; to build the relatability to this agenda, and acknowledgement that it is not someone else’s problem – it could be any of us.