Emma McMillen
Director of Homeless & Community Services, Dublin Simon Community
There is an ongoing increase in female homelessness across Ireland and the need for services, support and outreach tailored specifically to women’s needs.
Ireland records a high proportion of women in its homeless population compared with other European countries. As women often experience ‘hidden homelessness,’ the true extent of this rise may be significantly underestimated.
Scale of female homelessness
Emma McMillen, Director of Homeless and Community Services for the Dublin Simon Community, discusses this demographic change. “When I started in 2008, homelessness primarily affected men, this has changed significantly. Women are experiencing homelessness at a rising rate, and we are seeing this shift reflected in our services every day,” she explains. “For women, the vulnerability of sleeping on the street increases just because of their gender.”
Delivering housing, health and wellbeing services
Founded in 1969, the Dublin Simon Community provides services at all stages of homelessness across Dublin, and surrounding counties to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Dublin Simon is combating the increase in female homelessness by making the provision of female-focused support services part of its strategic goals.
“We’re engaging female business leaders, academics and thought leaders, coupled with data-driven decision making to further develop long-term solutions to the ever-growing crisis of women in homelessness,” ads McMillen. “Recovery from homelessness isn’t just about housing; it’s about rebuilding lives. We want our offerings to sustain long-term recovery.”
Homeless women face increased
risk of violence, exploitation and
limited access to healthcare.
Addressing female-specific needs
The ongoing rise of female homelessness underscores the urgent need for policies and services tailored to the unique needs of women who face challenges unseen by their male counterparts. “Homeless women face increased risk of violence, exploitation and limited access to healthcare, including sanitary equipment and maternity services. Ensuring their safety and wellbeing is a key priority for us,” says McMillen.
Addressing female-specific needs means creating safe spaces for women, trauma-informed services and tailored healthcare initiatives. “We utilise client feedback to develop our programmes, which has led to female-only support groups, consent workshops, empowerment programmes, wellness workshops and psychosocial support groups. We also have nurse-led services including menopause clinics, safe sex workshops and education sessions on domestic and sexual violence,” she says.
Community engagement and support
The public can support women experiencing homelessness in many ways, whether by donating, volunteering or simply raising awareness. If you, or someone you know might be interested in learning more about our work to develop long-term solutions to help women out of homelessness, please contact Senior Philanthropy Manager, Rachel Moffat: [email protected].
Help women out of homelessness: https://www.dubsimon.ie/
