Women: The Invisible Homeless

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Homeless women are vulnerable and terrified of being attacked in cities across Australia and the community must open its heart to them, the Prime Minister's wife says.

Ms Rein, who is patron of homeless organisation Common Ground, told the audience homeless women often couch-surfed to avoid rough sleeping.

"Sleeping rough is even more dangerous for women," she said.

"They're sleeping in hidden nooks and crannies, wandering the streets until they collapse with exhaustion, terrified they'll be attacked."

She said a new model of care, pioneered by Common Ground in America, and now being set up across cities in Australia, aimed to give homeless people tenancies.

Permanent housing allows homeless people the ability to rebuild their lives, Ms Rein said.