When social responses for violence against women are insufficient to prevent homelessness - A perspective from Quebec (Canada)

Abstract

This article presents part of the results of a study carried out in eight administrative regions of Quebec (Canada) where 46 women who had experienced IPV and homelessness in the 5 years preceding the research share their experience through life course in-depth interviews. It focuses mainly on the main structural barriers encountered by women when leaving a context of violence, barriers that appear to have contributed to (re)producing or exacerbating situations of homelessness. It mainly shows that: 1. the lack of response to childhood abuse and instability upon leaving the child protective service creates a context for a transition to homelessness and the experience of a first violent relationship. 2. Under-detection of coercive control limits women's ability to leave the abusive relationship and access safe and stable living conditions and 3. The lack of access to stable housing or to assistance and accommodation resources adapted to certain conditions or in underserved regions keeps women in violent contexts or produces situations of homelessness. The findings of this study raising the need to 1) develop homelessness prevention policies that employ an intersectional gender-based analysis and approach 2) implant a trauma-informed approach in the field of homelessness to consider the impact of violence on women's health, well-being, and living conditions and 3) develop innovative strategies to combat all form of violence that contribute to preventing homelessness in women.