Why Homelessness Feels Different for Women
You might not notice her, but she’s there.
She’s parked at the edge of a grocery store lot, trying to get a few hours of sleep before sunrise. Her toddler is in the back seat, tucked under a blanket. Her phone is out of service, her gas tank nearly empty, and her heart races every time someone walks by.
This is homelessness for many women.
Women Often Hide Their Homelessness to Stay Safe
Unlike the more visible side of homelessness, many women aren’t sleeping on park benches or living in crowded camps. They’re doing everything they can to stay invisible, because being seen can mean being in danger.
Some stay with friends. Some live in cars. Others remain in relationships that are toxic or even abusive because it feels safer than facing the unknown. The fear of violence, judgment, or being separated from their children keeps many women silent. But silence doesn’t mean safety, and invisibility doesn’t mean everything is okay.
Many Are Mothers Trying to Keep Life Together
One of the most heartbreaking truths is that a large number of homeless women are also mothers. They’re not just trying to survive; they’re trying to protect their children from the emotional toll of instability.
They pack lunches, walk their kids to school, and paste on smiles while silently wondering where they’ll sleep that night.
We’ve seen this courage up close. At City Mission, we’ve met moms who held their families together through unimaginable circumstances. Women who put their children first in every decision, even as their own lives were unraveling.
It’s hard to ask for help when your kids are watching. But we want every mother to know: asking for help is not weakness. It’s bravery.
Homelessness Doesn’t Just Happen Overnight
For most women, homelessness isn’t a sudden event, it’s the result of years spent trying to survive impossible circumstances. It may begin with childhood trauma, an untreated mental health issue, or the slow unraveling of life after addiction. Often, it’s a combination of many things that go unnoticed until the bottom falls out.
At City Mission, we’ve seen women come through our doors straight from the hospital, with nowhere else to go. We’ve welcomed mothers who arrive carrying only a diaper bag, doing everything they can to hold on to hope.
Jennifer was one of those women. She had made the brave decision to leave her old life behind, choosing sobriety and safety for herself and her newborn son. With nothing but determination and the will to change, she walked through the doors of City Mission ready to begin again.
She built friendships with other moms who understood her journey. She leaned on staff members who reminded her that she was not alone. Slowly, the weight she carried began to lift.
Today, Jennifer works as a Resident Assistant, offering the same compassion and encouragement she once received.
The Need Has Grown, But So Has Our Vision
We hear from women like Jennifer every day. But sadly, we don’t always have room.
Nationally, from 2023-2024, homelessness among women increased 26%. And the need is growing not just across the country but in our own neighborhood as well. We get phone calls every day from women seeking shelter. These are real stores. Real women who are ready for a second chance but have nowhere to go tonight.
They need more than a bed. They need privacy, dignity, safety, and care.
You Can Help a Woman Find Safety and Hope
Every woman who calls us asking for help is someone’s daughter, someone’s mother, someone’s friend. She’s worth helping. Worth saving. Worth restoring.
With your support, we’re building Sally’s Sanctuary, a new Women’s Center right here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It will provide 50 additional beds for homeless women and so much more.
It will be a place of safety and healing, offering not just shelter but also meals, counseling, spiritual care, recovery services, and community.
The building is very near completion. We are planning for women to move into the new space starting in mid-to-late October. This is where their new life begins, where they can heal and restore their confidence and their hope.
Be Part of Her Story
If you’ve ever wondered what you could do to make a difference, this is your moment.
Your gift today can help us open our doors to every woman who needs one. You help provide someone with a warm bed, a hot meal, and an opportunity to completely transform their life.
Please consider donating today.
