New data reveals majority of homeless households in Northern Ireland are led by women. Simon Community opens new Belfast women-only service to meet urgent need.
New data from Simon Community, based on official figures from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, reveals that women head the majority of households experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.
The charity has revealed:
- More than half (56%) of homeless households are led by women. Among people under 30, that rises to over 60%.
- Between October 2024 and March 2025, 609 households presented as homeless to the Housing Executive because of domestic violence - 83% were led by women.
- Women head up 84% of the 11,000 homeless families (households containing children) across Northern Ireland.
- Women make up most homeless households in almost every category monitored by the Department for Communities. The only exception is ‘single adults’ where women make up 1/3 of those experiencing homelessness. This still represents over 5,000 women.
- Women are more likely than men to lose private rented homes or live in unsuitable housing, making up nearly two-thirds of these cases.
Yet, according to a recent poll, only 3% of people in Northern Ireland believe homelessness mainly affects women, and fewer than half recognise domestic abuse as a leading cause of homelessness.
To address the urgent and growing need, Simon Community has now opened a new women-only accommodation and support service in South Belfast. This service, based at the charity’s former mixed-gender accommodation site on Saintfield Road, offers private rooms, shared kitchens and living areas, plus support tailored specifically for women experiencing homelessness.
Kirsten Hewitt, Director of Homelessness Services at Simon Community says:
“Right now there are thousands of women across Northern Ireland who are experiencing homelessness. But these are not just statistics - they are women who have often survived domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, bereavement, and years of feeling unsafe.
For some women, mixed-gender services work well. But for others, especially those recovering from abuse or trauma, they can feel intimidating or unsafe. That’s why services like our new Saintfield Road hub are so important - they give women the choice of a women-only space.
Without options like this, many women remain stuck in a painful cycle of homelessness with nowhere that truly meets their needs.”
Simon Community’s Saintfield Road service was developed directly in response to the needs and voices of women who have been supported by the charity.
Charmaine is currently staying in the new women’s only service and says:
“I spent years in an abusive relationship and leaving wasn’t easy. I came to the Simon Community with just the clothes I stood in. I was so glad to finally have a warm bed and know that no one could come through my door unless I let them.
The support I have received here is beyond anything I expected – it’s not just about housing, it’s about helping you get your life back. I’ve always been a wallflower but now I feel stronger and that I have found my voice.”
Simon Community is now calling for more women-only, trauma-informed services across Northern Ireland - and for a shift in how policymakers and the general public understand homelessness.
“Homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof over your head,” Kirsten Hewitt adds. “For many women, it’s the end result of years of trauma, abuse, and fear. We have to understand what these women have been through, and give the right support and spaces so they can start to rebuild their lives.”