The Press: Women’s homelessness in Aotearoa – stories of survival and strength

In her article for The Press, Maddy Croad explores women’s homelessness in Aotearoa. She spoke with two women in Christchurch who had experienced it - one of whom is still living on the streets.

Read her story here.

Maddy highlights that across New Zealand, more than half of people experiencing homelessness are women, yet their struggles often go unseen. Many are not living on the streets in plain view - they are couch-surfing, sleeping in cars, or trading sex work for a safe place to stay.

Victoria Crockford, the Coalition’s project director, explains that the dangers of street life are so severe that women will often do whatever they can to find shelter - including exchanging sex for shelter.

Through the work of the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness, the hidden realities of women’s homelessness are being revealed. 

Maddy features stories of women living without secure housing which shows both the systemic gaps that need to be addressed and the resilience and courage of those experiencing it.

Star’s story - a glimpse into women’s homelessness

Star*, 35, grew up on the outskirts of Christchurch and has spent much of her life without stable housing. She became homeless after falling behind on bills, struggling with rules, and being too proud to seek help from her family. To stay awake and alert through the nights, she turned to methamphetamine.

“I pretty much smoked meth so I wouldn’t have to sleep anywhere or rely on anyone at all… I’m unsafe most of the time… when I’m by myself, I’m pretty much in danger,” she says. 

Her drug use led to deteriorating mental health, antisocial behaviour, and a three-month stint in prison. 

“I got into heaps of fights, I got arrested so many times. I frightfully became a really ugly person… made me real nasty. What a disgusting human being I became.”

Since being released, she has slept wherever she could -  parks, grassy areas, and streets.

Star is still living on the streets, most recently in a tent in the red zone, but she’s making strides in managing her mental health and addiction. She shares her journey to give insight into the challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness and to share her story with her family.

Sem’s story - turning your life around is possible

Sem came to Aotearoa from Ethiopia as a young person and soon experienced homelessness while battling addiction, moving between cars and couches and turning to sex work to survive.

“I always felt like I was a lost cause… I had made up my mind that I was gonna commit suicide,” she says. 

“It was just self-medicating in the beginning, I didn’t know that there was actually a professional that could help me. I felt shamed, embarrassed, and just worthless. I didn’t want to tell people that I was sleeping in my car.”

Seven months, 12 days ago Sem was an addict. Her life changed when a judge told her: “Sem is not a lost cause.”

Sem was bailed to an address with people who were clean, and got clean herself.  

With support from Housing First Christchurch, Sem now lives in her own rental, owns a car, and volunteers at homeless charity Orange Sky. She hopes to bring her younger sister from war-torn Ethiopia to live with her and shares her story to show that turning your life around is possible.