Blog by Sarah Barnbrook, SI Melbourne Inc. (SISEAP)
SI CSW70 Delegate
Event: A Home for All Is Justice for All
Organiser: NGO Working Group to End Homelessness
Date: 9 March 2026, 10:30 AM
CSW70 Virtual Parallel Event
This CSW70 parallel event explored the links between homelessness, discrimination, and women’s access to justice. Speakers highlighted how barriers to housing, land ownership, inheritance rights, and employment place many women and girls at greater risk of homelessness. The discussion emphasised that homelessness is rarely a single event. It is often the result of structural inequality, poverty, and violence experienced across the life course.
Amanda Richer, a displacement consultant from Seattle, shared both research and lived experience of growing up within systems affected by intergenerational poverty. Her story illustrated how early trauma, instability, and limited social protection can shape long-term outcomes for women and children. Data presented during the session showed the scale of the housing crisis, including rising housing costs and increasing numbers of people living without stable housing.
Tamar Ezer from the University of Miami School of Law discussed legal advocacy for housing rights and the importance of policies such as legal representation in eviction cases. Dr Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the human rights of older persons, highlighted how older women often remain invisible in homelessness data and policy responses, despite facing high risks due to poverty and limited pensions. Daniel LeBlanc from VIVAT International spoke about the experiences of Indigenous communities and the impact of the loss of ancestral lands. Cesia Nolasco from Covenant House Honduras shared insights from working with young people who flee violence and exploitation and emphasised the need for protection and trauma-informed support.
A key message from the discussion was that homelessness often results from broken systems rather than individual failure. Addressing homelessness requires policies that recognise housing as a human right and provide long-term structural solutions.
This conversation aligns closely with the Soroptimist pillar of Empowerment, as safe, secure housing is essential for women and girls to live with dignity, safety, and equal opportunity.
