WE NEED YOUR HELP!
ITAC’s Women’s Homelessness Action Group is looking for a space to pilot the ‘Haven’, an overnight drop-in space for homeless and vulnerable women. In order to run the project, we are looking into options for spaces we can use for a trial phase. We have received funding to pilot the project from Spring 2024 for up to a year, although we would consider shorter periods.
Full specification and requirements can be found on this flyer. If you can help us with this much needed service, please contact alice@itac.org.uk
The Women’s Homelessness Action Group (WHAG) came together following a workshop held at the summit on homelessness in November 2018.
The focus of the WHAG 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 those who care passionately about changing services for homeless women.
The WHAG has 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 find out more, or get involved in our work please contact: dianaminns@hotmail.com
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THE HAVEN:
In 2022, the WHAG commissioned a report to lay out the local context of women’s homelessness and investigate how we could work towards providing a ‘Haven’ for women to use at night-time in Cambridge.
The report demonstrates gaps in provision locally and set out a detailed strategic plan, with a proposal for a night-time facility for women who are street homeless, vulnerably housed, or in need of a safe space from their current circumstances. Read the report.
In partnership with the City Council, ITAC were successful in applying for a DLUHC grant to cover the costs of running a pilot for the project until the end of 2024. The plan is to open the Haven for two nights per week from late Spring, with the help of staff and volunteers from across the sector.
ITAC and the WHAG are thrilled we can finally announce the significant progress that has been made on this project. Marginalised women often face the greatest obstacles in accessing support and we hope the Haven will be a space of safety for those women who need it most. Thiis is an essential step towards better understanding the needs of homeless women and how we can continue developing specialist services in the city.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
In June 2023, ITAC were grateful to receive a small grant from the Evelyn Trust, allowing ITAC to fund a project officer to develop the Haven project. Huge thank you to the Evelyn Trust for their support.
Diana and Annie spoke to Neil Whiteside on Cambridge 105 Radio about the group’s campaign for a safe Haven in the city and the need for better, trauma informed services for women who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed. Listen to the interview.
Ella Betts, an inspirational young person and active member of the group, spoke to Caitlin Reilly from Varsity magazine about her experience of escaping an abusive relationship and trying to navigate an often fragmented and confusing system for those facing homelessness. Read the article.
SUPPORT US:
You can find the WHAG online @whagcambridge
The WHAG is raising money to support our ongoing work. Find our Just Giving page here.
