Homelessness and disability in the experience of women

Abstract

In times of an intensified existential risk, and it happens we live in these times the weak might experience problems resulting from the years of not talking about the matters such as violence, poverty, learned helplessness, addictions, and homelessness. Women are the group generating the mentioned problems. This study presents, in the form of an overview, the state of research on female homelessness. It describes the mentioned group, including reasons, types, and consequences of homelessness. Attention is paid to negative stereotypes that increase the suffering of women who are lonely and ill, women who must care for their children. The society perceive a homeless woman as an alcoholic punished her immoral life with homelessness. The truth is different. Homelessness of women has its own causes, including violence, intellectual disability, mental illness, solitude, and lack of formal education. Prolonged homelessness produces helplessness, a passiveness that makes it difficult to leave the state of homelessness. Apart from the afore mentioned, the situation is additionally complicated by deficiencies in the organization of support for women. However, women more often abandon homelessness; they are homeless for a much shorter period. To counteract the suffering of this group, the following measures should be implemented: support institutions in local communities; specialist services for different categories of homeless women: e.g., mothers with children or disabled women; a coherent system of social services allowing to find the indispensable housing, employment, and treatment as fast as possible, without years of waiting for a diagnosis.