Single women without a home are wandering our streets and neighborhoods with nowhere to go. This leaves them in a highly dangerous situation in which they become victims of sex trafficking, violence, and abusive relationships.
How big a problem is it? According to data from the United Way 211 call center, 451 calls for assistance with homelessness in 2016 were single females, jumping to 773 in 2017. The majority of their callers were between the ages of 19-39, and 46% reported it was their first time being homeless. In 2017, 208 callers self-reported having a diagnosed mental health issue.
Area homeless advocates confirmed that the population most in need of service among the homeless is single women. In Allen County there are few if any beds allotted to single homeless women on an emergency basis.
While our Fort Wayne community has emergency shelter options for homeless men and for homeless parents with children, sadly, no emergency shelter currently exists for single homeless women. The time to change that is now.
St. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter, a project of St. Joseph Missions, will become Fort Wayne’s first emergency shelter for single homeless women. More than just a refuge for the night, St. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter will provide a safe, supportive, and structured environment that honors women’s dignity and empowers them to become self-sufficient.
How big a problem is it? According to data from the United Way 211 call center, 451 calls for assistance with homelessness in 2016 were single females, jumping to 773 in 2017. The majority of their callers were between the ages of 19-39, and 46% reported it was their first time being homeless. In 2017, 208 callers self-reported having a diagnosed mental health issue.
Area homeless advocates confirmed that the population most in need of service among the homeless is single women. In Allen County there are few if any beds allotted to single homeless women on an emergency basis.
While our Fort Wayne community has emergency shelter options for homeless men and for homeless parents with children, sadly, no emergency shelter currently exists for single homeless women. The time to change that is now.
St. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter, a project of St. Joseph Missions, will become Fort Wayne’s first emergency shelter for single homeless women. More than just a refuge for the night, St. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter will provide a safe, supportive, and structured environment that honors women’s dignity and empowers them to become self-sufficient.