This month marks an important milestone for The Haven, our safe drop-in space for at-risk women in Cambridge city centre. What began as a pilot in June 2024 has now been operating for two years.
Last week, we held an event bringing together staff, volunteers (including many from the Women’s Homelessness Action Group), partner agencies and supporters to celebrate what has been achieved thus far and to talk about how the service might develop in the year ahead.
“When we started the Haven, none of us knew where it would go or what was going to happen. We just had a dream of doing something that would provide essential services for women experiencing homelessness. And thanks to great people like our staff, volunteers and supporters it’s become something really meaningful. That’s down to the extra work, the extra mile that everyone, working across different organisations, has been prepared to go”. Lis Silver, It Takes A City CEO
In these two years, over 191 nights, The Haven has supported 51 individual women by offering a quiet resting place with food, washing facilities, clothing, toiletries and hygiene products, as well as conversation, advice, and emotional support from the all-female team of staff and volunteers.
We have found that women are often reluctant to use mixed-gender services because of their experiences and will therefore not receive the critical support they need. A large majority of visitors (66%) were sleeping rough on a regular basis when they first came to the Haven; others were marginally housed, with many seeking respite at The Haven from abusive or coercive relationships.
Women are disproportionately affected by violence, a common cause of homelessness. This can lead to ‘hidden homelessness’ where women are forced to find hidden sleeping sites, sofa surf, sleep in cars/buses, rely on sex work or remain in ‘survival partnerships’ to avoid sleeping on the streets. This is why the Haven exists – to give shelter and hope to women in desperate need.
You can read in detail about the past 2 years at The Haven in the full report.
“We make [The Haven] friendly and a bit homely, because that’s important.” Diana Minns, Chair of Women’s Homelessness Action Group (WHAG)
Listening to the voices of the women at The Haven has been central to its’ success. In response to their voices, from 22nd June we will now be open every Monday from 2pm to midnight. We will continue opening Thursday nights from 8pm through to Friday mornings at 10:30am.
Would you like to find out how your business or organisation can best support The Haven through fundraising, volunteering or donations? Email haven-info@itac.org.uk to start the conversation.
