by Shanzeh Haider, Underserved Populations Intern
Despite efforts to reduce homelessness in the United States (US), a rise in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness has been recorded. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) reported that on a single night in January 2023, 653,104 individuals experienced homelessness in the US (Soucy et al., 2024). This statistic highlights over a 12.1% increase in homelessness from 2022 (Soucy et al., 2024). In Maryland, Montgomery County’s Point-in-Time survey showed a 32% increase in homelessness in the county from 2024 to 2025 (2025 Point in Time Survey, 2025).
Furthermore, a disproportionate rise in women experiencing homelessness has been noted by multiple studies, with women making up a significant portion of the rising homeless population in the US (Tsai & Lampros, 2024). A 2024 study that utilized past data from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found that between 2018 and 2022, there was a 4% increase in the proportion of women experiencing unsheltered homelessness (Tsai & Lampros, 2024). Minority groups experience homelessness at disproportionately higher rates than white individuals (Racial Inequalities, 2020). Data compiled by the NAEH found that African Americans make up more than 40% of the homeless population in the US (Racial Inequalities, 2020).
Women experiencing homelessness (WEH) face unique barriers and challenges, including a high risk of sexual violence (Zirkle, 2022). Governmental data shows that more than 90% of WEH have experienced sexual or physical abuse in their lives (Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, 2016). Moreover, a 1997 study showed that, within a large sample of mothers experiencing homelessness, 92% had experienced sexual or physical violence (Goodman et al., 2006). Gender-based violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and other forms of sexual violence all have the potential to occur in the lives of WEH (Turk, 2022).
A variety of situational factors, including length of time experiencing homelessness, occurrence of serious mental illness (SMI), substance abuse, and location, play a role in the degree of risk of sexual violence that WEH face (Zirkle, 2022). For example, a study that focused on WEH diagnosed with SMI found that 97% of the women experienced violent victimization in their lives (Goodman et al., 1995). The study also found that in the month before the interview, 28% of the women reported experiencing sexual or physical assault (Goodman et al., 1995).
WEH face multiple obstacles in receiving care due to reasons including a lack of access to healthcare, legal services, and shelter capacity (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, n.d.). In addition, women of color experiencing homelessness face additional challenges in receiving access to care and support due to racism and discrimination (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, n.d.).
In addressing sexual violence among WEH, it is important to look at past effective interventions and potential new interventions. Currently, there appears to be a lack of research on successful and long-lasting interventions specific to WEH. Targeting homelessness and housing instability in the US would be one way to address sexual assault among WEH and decrease the homeless population of the US simultaneously (Goodman et al., 2006). Increased services for IEH with trauma-informed care approaches would aid in creating culturally appropriate methods of care. Increasing access to affordable housing would also help reduce homelessness (Improving Access, 2025).
Unsheltered WEH can face difficulty in accessing shelters due to full capacity, which could lead to further victimization in dangerous living conditions if sexual violence was occuring during the unsheltered period (Goodman et al., 2006). Thus, increasing the capacity of shelters and increasing the number of shelters would help WEH gain safer living conditions. However, since sexual violence could still occur in a sheltered environment, increased training and effective trauma-informed approaches to WEH who may have experienced sexual violence need to be implemented at shelters. Access to support services should be promoted at shelters as well as ensuring the safety and comfort of WEH.
Research that focused on care for young adults experiencing homelessness identified a need for increased training for healthcare workers on post-sexual assault care and community-focused interventions to provide education regarding sexual violence and promote available services (Santa Maria et al., 2020). These interventions would help increase access to care among WEH and address existing disparities in care due to stigma and fear. The research also presented an idea for mobile sexual assault response teams, which could help expand the scope of services and provide care to more WEH (Santa Maria et al., 2020).
Overall, WEH, especially women of color experiencing homelessness, face a high risk of sexual violence which is proved by a multitude of research and statistics. Further research and interventions are needed to increase access to trauma-informed support services and healthcare.
Resources for Women Experiencing Homelessness in Maryland:
References
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Goodman, L. A., Dutton, M. A., & Harris, M. (1995). Episodically homeless women with serious mental illness: Prevalence of physical and sexual assault. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 65(4), 468-478. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Goodman, L. A., Fels, K., Glenn, C., & Benitez, J. (2006, September). No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women. VAWnet: The National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
Improving Access to Affordable Housing. (2025). National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Kenney, R. (2024, March 14). Supporting Women of Color Experiencing Homelessness as Individuals in Los Angeles (I. Koo, Ed.). Urban Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). Housing & Sexual Violence. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services. (2016). Domestic Violence and Homelessness: Statistics. Administration for Children and Families - United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Racial Inequalities in Homelessness, by the Numbers. (2020, June 1). National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
Santa Maria, D., Breeden, K., Drake, S., Narendorf, S., Barman-Adhikari, A., Petering, R., Hsu, H.-T., Shelton, J., Ferguson, K., & Bender, K. (2020). Gaps in Sexual Assault Health Care Among Homeless Young Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 58(2). Retrieved July 2025 here.
Soucy, D., Janes, M., & Hall, A. (2024, August 5). State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition. National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
Tsai, J., & Lampros, A. (2024). Disproportionate increases in numbers and rates of homelessness among women in the united states, 2018-2022. Public Health Reports®, 140(1), 103-107. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Turk, A. (2022, March 28). Recognizing Women Experiencing Homelessness: A Women's History Month Spotlight on Downtown Women's Center. National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
2025 Point in Time Survey Shows Increase in Number of Montgomery County Residents Experiencing Homelessness. (2025, May 15). Montgomery County Government. Retrieved July 2025 here.
Zirkle, L. (2022, September 15). Sexual Violence Against Women Experiencing Homelessness. Georgetown Law. Retrieved July 10, 2025, here.
