Novas Annual Report 2022

Annual Report 2022
NOVAS’ WOMEN’S SERVICES
While women comprise approximately one-third of the homeless population
in Ireland, some 59% of people who accessed NOVAS’ residential services in
2022 were women, in part due to our female-only service provision in Dublin.
Across our three dedicated women’s services, NOVAS worked with 224 female
residents last year. The vast majority of the women that live in our services
have experienced domestic, sexual or gender-based violence at some point of
their lives and segregated services can enhance a sense of safety and foster
engagement among some women.
With a capacity for 58 women on a nightly basis across the three sites, NOVAS
provided dedicated temporary accommodation for homeless women with
co-occurring and complex needs, many of whom came directly from rough
sleeping and street homeless arrangements. Our services offer a range of
rehabilitation and stabilisation interventions designed to engage with residents
and create sustainable pathways out of homelessness. Supports are provided
through the lens of trauma informed practice and harm reduction. Services do
not put barriers in place for entry and accept the women as they are.
Issue facing the women in our services include addiction, mental health,
housing, life skills, dual diagnosis of mental health and addiction, physical
health and intellectual disabilities.
AGE PROFILE OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN NOVAS FEMALE
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
18-21
22-25
26-30
31-40
41-60
60+
Age Profile
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
32