Celebrating Three Years of FEANTSA WOMEN on International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day, we proudly mark the third anniversary of FEANTSA WOMEN—a community of practice that brings together professionals who are committed to ending women’s homelessness.

To mark this anniversary, we have invited members of our network to share their experiences and insights into advocating for women experiencing homelessness. From their journeys, we have gathered key lessons that shape our work and strengthen our collective efforts:

What we have learnt from FEANTSA WOMEN

Collaboration Drives Change: European and international partnerships and projects are essential for driving changes at the local, national, and organizational levels.
A Strong and Supportive Community: A diverse European network enables us to exchange experiences, tackle shared challenges, and build the collective knowledge base.
Advocating for Gender-Specific Policies: Women’s homelessness requires targeted policies that address women’s unique needs and barriers, ensuring long-term and sustainable solutions.
Focus on Strengths and Resilience: Women experiencing homelessness demonstrate remarkable strengths and resilience.
Comprehensive support: Addressing every need, from historically taboo topics such as menstruation and menopause, to ensuring access to safe and empowering spaces.
Empowering Women’s Voices: Advocacy efforts must centre on women’s lived experiences, ensuring they lead, shape, and influence the policies that affect them.
Recognising Diversity: Women experiencing homelessness are not a homogenous group. Our approaches must reflect their varied backgrounds, experiences, and challenges.
Cross-Sector Collaboration is Essential: Effective solutions require partnerships across health, child protection, the justice system, housing, and domestic violence services, ensuring comprehensive support.
A Trauma-Informed Approach: Every intervention must acknowledge the impact of gender-based violence, incorporating gender and trauma-sensitive care into support services.
Better Data for Better Policies: Expanding definitions of homelessness leads to more accurate data including forms of hidden homelessness, which, in turn, drives more effective and inclusive policies.
Addressing Safety and Barriers: Women face unique safety concerns and obstacles when accessing support. Women-only spaces, designed by and for women, are critical in creating a safe environment.
Eliminating Stigma and Judgment: Shame and stigma remain significant barriers to support. Women strive in an empowering environment where every woman is met with dignity.
The Right to Housing and Dignity: Every woman has a right to a dignified life and safe housing that enables it.

FEANTSA WOMEN continues…

These lessons/insights are the core of FEANTSA WOMEN’s mission to end women’s homelessness. Through collaboration, joint advocacy and the development of innovative approaches, we continue our commitment to improve support for women and to end and prevent women’s homelessness.