Gender and Homelessness

This article reports the findings of a study that examined the characteristics of the homeless population, the reasons for homelessness, and the service needs and services provided in a moderately sized community. Particular attention was given to homeless women and to an examination of how homelessness might be experienced differently by women and men. Findings indicate that women were more likely to become homeless due to eviction and domestic violence, where as men were more likely to experience homelessness as a result of unemployment, alcohol abuse and jail release. The author contends that because homelessness is experienced differently by men and women, their service needs will parallel these differences (author).