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The Particularly Vulnerable Situation of Women Living Homeless in Madrid (Spain)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2019

José Juan Vázquez Open the ORCID record for José Juan Vázquez [Opens in a new window] ,
Sonia Panadero  and
Isabel Pascual
José Juan Vázquez*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alcalá (Spain)
Sonia Panadero
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Isabel Pascual
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alcalá (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to José Juan Vázquez Cabrera. Universidad de Alcalá. Departamento de Psicología Social. Aulario María de Guzmán, Calle San Cirilo, s/n, 28801 Alcalá de Henares (Spain). E-mail: jj.vazquez@uah.es
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Abstract

People in homeless situation are one of the major embodiments of the phenomenon of social exclusion, and women living homeless are considered a particularly vulnerable group. This paper examines different variables that may affect the situation of vulnerability experienced by women living homeless in Madrid (Spain). The study was carried out using data obtained from a representative sample of homeless men in Madrid (n = 158) and a sample of homeless women in Madrid of a similar size (n = 138). The information was gathered using a structured interview in shelters or other facilities for people in a homeless situation, on the street and in other places not initially designed for sleeping. The results show that woman living homeless are highly vulnerable compared to the domiciled population and, in some respects, to homeless men as well, especially in the number of times homeless (χ2 = 10.314; p < .01), in the time working with a contract and/or self-employed (t = 5.754; p < .001), and in the use of sedatives (χ2= 14.741; p < .001). It is however noted that homeless women show in some aspects greater strengths than homeless men. Such strengths could serve as a supporting point for their social inclusion processes. The analysis of issues that differentiate women in a homeless situation from their male counterparts could be useful for developing public policies and care resources adapted to the specific characteristics and needs of women living homeless.

Keywords

homelessnesssocial exclusionwomen
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 22 , 2019 , E52
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2019 

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Footnotes

This work was supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación of the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain under Grant FEM2016-75317-R.

How to cite this article:

Vázquez, J. J., Panadero, S., & Pascual, I. (2019). The particularly vulnerable situation of women living homeless in Madrid (Spain). The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 22. e52. Doi:10.1017/SJP.2019.58

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