Art / homelessness
Highlighting the plight of women who experience homelessness
A new mural has been painted to raise awareness of issues that are specific to women when becoming homeless.
The artwork is a collaboration between the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) and Women’s Action Group (WAG) – a collective of women with lived experience of homelessness or poor housing in Bristol.
It was created in May 2022 by the Nelson Trust and housing charity Shelter “to create systemic change and raise awareness of the housing issues women face within the city”, aiming to influence services to place women’s needs at the forefront of commissioning, service design and policy.
is needed now More than ever
Jamaica Street’s new mural, which was painted by PRSC director and artist Benoit Bennett and WAG members, depicts a group of marching women holding a sign aloft calling for an end to women’s homelessness.
One in three single mothers are struggling to keep their home, the mural reads
Speaking at an unveiling event on Tuesday, Vicki Burn, co-facilitator of Women’s Action Group, said: “Although we are from a range of different backgrounds, ethnicity and cultures as a group we all have the shared purpose to end women’s homelessness and injustices.”
She added: “When we were working with PRSC to design the mural we had lots of ideas, but the women spoke about a shared experience and that was the trauma of becoming homeless and only being able to pack one bag and leave everything else behind.
“The woman is painted as a shadow walking over cracks in the pavement – the shadow represents the diversity of the women in the group but it also highlights the loss of identity that many of the women have shared happened to them when they lost their home.
“We hope the mural will enable us to raise awareness of the many issues that are specific to women when becoming homeless.”
Evie Carroll, also co-facilitator of the group, said: “From listening to the Women’s Action Group, it is clear that women need separate, gendered-informed housing where they feel safe and not an “add-on” from men’s accommodation.”
“We need to listen to women with lived experience to find the solutions to the housing crisis and design services and housing policies around women’s needs.”
In 2022, the number of women rough sleeping increased by 44 per cent, double that of men’s.
Women who are rough sleeping are often existing or expectant mothers, fleeing violence or have disabilities or health problems.
In temporary accommodation, six out of ten people are women.
All photos & video: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- New homeless shelter to open for young people
- Hope for Bristol’s young queer homeless
- Shelter staff begin strike over fears of becoming homeless
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