City, regional councillors to discuss women's homelessness with YWCA Cambridge

The fight against women's homelessness continues for the YWCA Cambridge.

With zero emergency shelter beds dedicated to women in the region, the local organization is bringing city and regional councillors together for a virtual discussion on Jan. 31.

The speaker series is the second that's been put on with an emphasis on spreading awareness and finding solutions for women in crisis.

From Cambridge, Ward 4 councillor Ross Earnshaw, Ward 5 councillor Sheri Roberts, Ward 7 councillor Scott Hamilton and regional councillor Pam Wolf will all be on hand.

The panel is scheduled to talk about building political will, accountability systems and the pursuit of system level changes.

According to the Women’s National Homelessness and Housing Network, seven per cent of women will experience hidden homelessness in their lives. Applying those numbers to the city's current population, it equates to 5,089 women who are or have experienced it.

Hidden homelessness refers to women who are hesitant to come forward for fear of violence, family situations involving children or feelings of shame.

"Cambridge is a service desert for women experiencing homelessness," Rosalind Gunn, director of communications and advocacy for YWCA Cambridge told CambridgeToday late last year.

"We're saying the quiet part out loud. The knowledge isn't where it should be and it's time we give a damn."

Gunn said the goal of its work is gathering more support from the community and various levels of government in hopes of prompting action.

"Short term it's improving the communities understanding of the extent of the issue," she said.

"It's about the whole housing continuum. We need more affordable housing and rent-geared to income."

The virtual event runs from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

To register for the "Women's Homelessness in Cambridge: The Political Pursuit of Systems Level Change" click here.