Women and Homelessness

Supporting women to find safety and stability in Jersey

Homelessness among women, and sometimes their children, is often less visible than among men, but it is no less real. In Jersey, women experiencing homelessness can face complex and overlapping challenges, including trauma, domestic abuse, poor health, financial insecurity and social isolation. These factors can make it significantly harder to access safe accommodation and sustained support, particularly at times of crisis.

At Shelter Trust, supporting women is a core part of its mission to provide safety, dignity and a pathway forward for people experiencing homelessness across the Island. While Shelter is widely recognised as Jersey’s largest provider of accommodation and support services for people aged 16 and over, its women-only provision, and the wider support available to women, is sometimes less well understood.

It is also important to recognise that Shelter is not the only organisation offering help. Women in abusive relationships, with or without children, have a range of routes to support, including specialised services such as FREEDA, alongside statutory services and community partners working together to respond to homelessness and violence.

In recent years, Shelter has seen a steady increase in the number of women presenting for accommodation and support at Aztec House. In response to this growing demand, and recognising that some women are reluctant to access mixed-gender services due to safety concerns or experiences of domestic abuse, Shelter opened Venetia House in 2022.

“The opening of Venetia House was a direct response to the increasing number of women presenting to Shelter in need of accommodation and support,” said Josephine Scott, Acting Director for Shelter Trust. “We recognised that some women, particularly those who have experienced domestic abuse, require a women-only space where they can feel safe, regain stability and begin to rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence.”

The project was established under the leadership of Tessa Purvis, Project and Training Manager at Shelter, who was appointed as Project Manager to develop and deliver the service. Venetia House is a confidential, women-only accommodation service designed to provide a safe and supportive environment where women can begin to rebuild their lives. Since opening, Venetia House has supported over 60 women with accommodation, alongside many more who have received support through Shelter’s wider services.

The service offers 20 single-occupancy bed spaces, as well as family accommodation. Importantly, Venetia House provides much more than just a roof. For women arriving in crisis, often with little stability or support around them, this consistency of care is transformative.

Women-only services play a vital role because women’s experiences of homelessness are often shaped by different risks and realities. Many women supported at Venetia House have experienced, or are currently experiencing, domestic abuse. According to the latest Government of Jersey Homelessness in Jersey Report, 25% of people accessing homelessness services in Q3 2025 were women.  A high percentage of women were recorded as being at risk of, or experiencing domestic abuse, which remains a leading factor for women’s homelessness. Other women, are coping with the long-term impacts of trauma, poor mental health, or disrupted family relationships.

Alongside accommodation, Shelter’s Inclusion Workers - Women’s Services provide person-centred support both within its accommodation and in the wider community. More than 20 women are presently being supported by Shelter’s Outreach and Inclusion Workers.

Practical support is also crucial. Women staying at Venetia House have access to a free weekly GP clinic at Shelter’s Aztec House, helping to remove barriers to healthcare that can otherwise be difficult to overcome. Day services are also available, allowing women living in the community to come in for a meal, access practical help, or speak with staff in a safe and supportive environment.

At any given time, across our services, Shelter is supporting more women than many realise. This work sits alongside Shelter’s broader provision across seven sites, offering 117 single-room occupancy within a range of services including emergency accommodation, a dedicated provision for young adults, resettlement and aftercare.

Crucially, women’s homelessness in Jersey is often hidden, taking place behind closed doors, in unsafe or unstable arrangements, or through cycles of sofa-surfing and crisis. Demand for safe, practical and immediate support continues to grow.

Mike Powell, Chair of Trustees at The Shelter Trust, added: “Over time, we identified an important unmet need for homeless women. The large number of women supported to date has confirmed to us the need for Venetia House and other women only services.”

Recognising the essential work of partners across the Island strengthens these efforts and helps ensure that all women have a number of options and support tailored to their circumstances. For women facing homelessness or living in unsafe situations, knowing that confidential, women-only support exists can be a vital first step forward. More information about Shelter’s services can be found at shelter.org.je.