New figures show women head the majority of homeless households in Northern Ireland
A woman from Northern Ireland has said a women’s only service has helped her turn her life around after experiencing homelessness upon leaving an abusive relationship.
Charmaine is staying in the Simon Community’s new women’s only accommodation and support service in South Belfast. The new service was set up to meet urgent demand, as new data from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive reveals women head the majority of households experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Between October 2024 and March 2025, 609 households presented as homeless to the Housing Executive because of domestic violence – 83% were led by women.
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However, a recent poll shows only 3% of people in Northern Ireland believe homelessness mainly affects women, and fewer than half recognise domestic abuse as a leading cause of homelessness.
The Simon Community’s new women’s only service is based a the charity’s former mixed-gender accommodation site on Saintfield Road, and offers private rooms, shared kitchens and living areas, plus support tailored specifically for women experiencing homelessness. It was developed directly in response to the needs and voices of women who have been supported by the charity.
Speaking about her experience of the service, Charmaine said: “I spent years in an abusive relationship and leaving wasn’t easy. I came to the Simon Community with just the clothes I stood in. I was so glad to finally have a warm bed and know that no one could come through my door unless I let them.
“The support I have received here is beyond anything I expected – it’s not just about housing, it’s about helping you get your life back. I’ve always been a wallflower but now I feel stronger and that I have found my voice.”
Kirsten Hewitt, Director of Homelessness Services at Simon Community, said: “Right now there are thousands of women across Northern Ireland who are experiencing homelessness. But these are not just statistics – they are women who have often survived domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, bereavement, and years of feeling unsafe.
“For some women, mixed-gender services work well. But for others, especially those recovering from abuse or trauma, they can feel intimidating or unsafe. That’s why services like our new Saintfield Road hub are so important – they give women the choice of a women-only space.
“Without options like this, many women remain stuck in a painful cycle of homelessness with nowhere that truly meets their needs.”
Simon Community is now calling for more women-only, trauma-informed services across Northern Ireland – and for a shift in how policymakers and the general public understand homelessness.
“Homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof over your head,” Kirsten Hewitt adds . “For many women, it’s the end result of years of trauma, abuse, and fear. We have to understand what these women have been through, and give the right support and spaces so they can start to rebuild their lives.”
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