When homelessness is female: insights from the Bologna context

The chapter explores the phenomenon of female homelessness in Bologna, highlighting its growing yet often hidden nature. Based on qualitative interviews with social workers and service providers, the study reveals how women’s homelessness is closely linked to gender-based violence, housing insecurity, and structural vulnerabilities. It emphasizes the invisibility of women within traditional homelessness services and the precarious survival strategies they adopt. The authors argue for the necessity of a gender-sensitive approach to better understand and address the specific needs and experiences of homeless women