A Review of International Surveys on Homeless Women: UK, Canada, and Los Angeles (USA)

Abstract

In Korea, following the implementation in 2011 of the Act on Support for Welfare and Self-Reliance of the Homeless, regular surveys have been conducted to capture the living conditions of homeless people, but with concerns persisting about the under-sampling of women. This article reviews surveys conducted in the UK, Canada, and the US on homeless women and draws lessons for policymaking in Korea. The UK case involves a census aimed at measuring the specific circumstances of women sleeping rough. The Canadian survey is of the state of women’s housing and homelessness. The example from the US is a survey of the needs of homeless women in Los Angeles. These surveys, while varying in approach depending on the characteristics and policy contexts of each country, share the common goal of bringing visibility to homeless women and informing policymakers of their needs. The emphasis throughout is on the need for linking policy interventions with more flexible approaches that go beyond traditional survey methods to reveal the realities faced by homeless women.