Understanding the healthcare priorities and challenges of women experiencing homelessness: A collaborative study. Final research report.

TY - BOOK

T1 - Understanding the healthcare priorities and challenges of women experiencing homelessness

T2 - A collaborative study. Final research report.

AU - Loret, Hannah

AU - Gray, Nicola M

AU - Boyle, Hannah

AU - Connor, Oliver

AU - Kyle, Brenna

AU - Farre, Albert

AU - Cumming, Sara

N1 - Copyright of author and Simon Community Scotland. All rights reserved.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Health outcomes for people who are experiencing homelessness are much worse than those of the general population, and women experiencing homelessness are less visible than their male counterparts, with less research around their needs and experiences (Reeve, 2018; Simon Community Scotland, 2022). Early death rates are disturbingly high - in 2022, 63% of women experiencing homelessness or in temporary accommodation who died were under 45 years old (National Records of Scotland, 2023). This project used a collaborative approach to co-create a research agenda based on the health priorities and needs identified by women experiencing homelessness. It mapped health issues for women experiencing homelessness, and it outlined existing solutions to recurrent problems based on information generated through a workshop with women experiencing homelessness and interviews with support professionals working in the homelessness sector. Through the creation of this work, the collaborators (the University of Dundee and Simon Community Scotland) aim to generate insights around experiences of health alongside women experiencing homelessness. While this small academic project will not be exhaustive of all approaches to health improvement for women experiencing homelessness, and is limited in its scope to address these problems directly, the research aims to address the health inequalities often experienced by women experiencing homelessness, and to raise awareness in health and social care policy and practice to support future improvements to health for women experiencing homelessness. Insights and recommendations from this research were shared with the Scottish Government Women’s Health Team, and at the Cross-Government Women’s Health Forum in 2025, as well as contributing findings to the UK Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry ‘Rebuilding Trust: Tackling Inequity in Menopause Care’ in 2025.

AB - Health outcomes for people who are experiencing homelessness are much worse than those of the general population, and women experiencing homelessness are less visible than their male counterparts, with less research around their needs and experiences (Reeve, 2018; Simon Community Scotland, 2022). Early death rates are disturbingly high - in 2022, 63% of women experiencing homelessness or in temporary accommodation who died were under 45 years old (National Records of Scotland, 2023). This project used a collaborative approach to co-create a research agenda based on the health priorities and needs identified by women experiencing homelessness. It mapped health issues for women experiencing homelessness, and it outlined existing solutions to recurrent problems based on information generated through a workshop with women experiencing homelessness and interviews with support professionals working in the homelessness sector. Through the creation of this work, the collaborators (the University of Dundee and Simon Community Scotland) aim to generate insights around experiences of health alongside women experiencing homelessness. While this small academic project will not be exhaustive of all approaches to health improvement for women experiencing homelessness, and is limited in its scope to address these problems directly, the research aims to address the health inequalities often experienced by women experiencing homelessness, and to raise awareness in health and social care policy and practice to support future improvements to health for women experiencing homelessness. Insights and recommendations from this research were shared with the Scottish Government Women’s Health Team, and at the Cross-Government Women’s Health Forum in 2025, as well as contributing findings to the UK Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry ‘Rebuilding Trust: Tackling Inequity in Menopause Care’ in 2025.

U2 - 10.20933/100001432

DO - 10.20933/100001432

M3 - Other report

BT - Understanding the healthcare priorities and challenges of women experiencing homelessness

PB - University of Dundee

ER -