Housing is a key issue for everyone. However, women who experience any form of violence against women such as domestic abuse and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) face very specific issues and challenges.
Women who sell or exchange sex can experience barriers to accessing housing support, and these issues can in turn push them into exploitation, will remain an issue whilst involved and can prevent them from moving on from this experience when they choose to.
Moreover, women who sell or exchange sex regularly engage with a range of services and agencies for support – from housing to sexual health, problematic substance use to money advice, among others, and they may disclose housing issues and needs with any of these services. Therefore, it is essential that staff have a good understanding of the issues that women encounter, such as precarious tenancies, survival sex, sex for rent, homelessness and exploitation and the impact of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
Organised by CSE Aware, this event will explore the housing needs of women involved in selling or exchanging sex in Scotland, highlight good practice in local strategic approaches and use case studies to consider how to respond to women’s housing needs in practice.
The event will cover:
- An overview of women’s housing issues and needs
- An example of good multi-agency approaches in a local area
- Inputs from workers engaging with women selling or exchanging sex and how to support them.
Who can attend?
This event is open to front-line workers and support services in all sectors but will be of particular interest to workers dealing with housing, such as staff in housing associations, housing services and homelessness. It will also be relevant to Women’s Aid workers, violence against women; mental health; sexual health and relationships; advice and support; addictions; criminal justice; public health; social work staff.
Please note this event is funded through Delivering Equally Safe and follows the Scottish Government’s approach to commercial sexual exploitation as a form of gender-based violence. The event will address women’s experiences from this perspective.
Accessing the event
This online event will take place over Zoom meeting. If we can do anything to make it easier for you to join, please let us know. This can include BSL interpretation or getting the slides in advance. You can email your request before the event to natalia@womenssupportproject.org.uk.
Can’t attend?
This event will be recorded. You can request the recording and a copy of the resources shared during the session to natalia@womenssupportproject.org.uk