Homeless women are one of the most vulnerable and overlooked groups in our community, and their numbers are increasing. Unfortunately, it can be harder to reach these women because many are what we call “hidden homeless.” This means they may be sofa-surfing, staying in unsafe places like squats, or being exploited in exchange for a bed for the night. 

To address these challenges, we’re proud to offer a female-only support path within our housing services. This gives vulnerable women access to long-term support, helping them leave the streets, stay off them, and work towards securing a stable home of their own. 

We provide this support through: 

• Orchid Sanctuary: A Winter Night Shelter offering four emergency beds and hot meals. 

• Orchid House: A 5-bed facility where women can find a safe, welcoming space and get the tailored support they need from our Housing Sustainment team and Orchid Women’s Services whilst learning life skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.  

In addition, we have a dedicated Caseworker and Female-only Sustainment Worker to ensure each woman receives the full support she needs. 

Once they’ve re-stabilised their lives, women can move into a community property within our housing association, where they’ll receive ongoing support, but with less intensity.