Women’s Homelessness Action Group
The Women’s Homelessness Action Group (WHAG) came together following a workshop held at It Takes A City’s (ITAC’s) foundational summit on homelessness in November 2018.
The WHAG’s focus is on the needs of and provision for homeless women. The WHAG has a range of members, including those currently working in the homelessness sector, academics, students, those with lived experience, local women’s services, the voluntary sector and others who care passionately about changing services for homeless women.
The WHAG has been working to achieve its two main aims:
- To ensure that the needs of homeless women are embedded in current, and future services.
- To ensure that safe and adequate women-only housing, and a Haven, are provided for vulnerable homeless women, including therapeutic care and a holistic pathway of support.
To do this, the WHAG has focused on working with and for women who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed, listening to the voices of lived experience to fully understand women’s needs. Additionally, the WHAG have advocated for the need to embed a trauma-informed approach into service delivery.
The Haven opened as a pilot project in June 2024. It’s now in its second year.
The WHAG continues to support the Haven and make the case for its continuing existence. We’re now also focussing on establishing a ‘Buddy system” of volunteers to support women going to key appointment and essential meetings. Where we’re identifying gaps in provision for street homeless and vulnerably housed women, through listening to them, we’re helping voice their concerns and make the case for improved provision/services.
Media Coverage:
Ella, an inspirational young person and member of the group, spoke to Caitlin Reilly from Varsity magazine in September 2021 about their experience of escaping an abusive relationship and trying to navigate an often fragmented and confusing system for those facing homelessness.
Diana and Annie spoke to Neil Whiteside on Cambridge 105 Radio in August 2022 about the group’s campaign for a Haven in the city.
In June 2023, ITAC received a grant from the Evelyn Trust, allowing them to fund a project officer to develop the Haven project. A huge thank you to the Evelyn Trust for their support.
BBC Cambridgeshire visited the Haven in September 2024 and interviewed Diana and Alice who have been involved in the Haven project.
To find out more, request a speaker, or get involved in our work, please contact WHAG coordinator: dianaminns@hotmail.com
Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates about our work.
You can find the WHAG on Facebook and BlueSky
The WHAG is raising money to support our ongoing work. Find our Just Giving page.
