Drawing upon the latest instalment of the influential ‘Hard Edges’ research series assessing the prevalence and nature of overlaps between homelessness, substance use and criminal offending in the UK, this paper provides a gendered analysis of ‘severe and multiple disadvantage’ (SMD). It provides an overview of key findings from a large-scale qualitative study of the experiences of women affected by SMD which involved detailed case studies in Belfast, Glasgow, Stoke-on-Trent, and Swansea. The study cast light on the horrifying prominence of violence in the life histories of these women and severity of associated trauma. It also revealed how the combination of SMD experiences heightens barriers to health and social care services and manner in which these barriers are exacerbated when SMD domains intersect with other social categorisations (e.g. neurodivergence, disability). Furthermore, it highlighted the extreme lengths that many women go to in order to conceal or downplay their circumstances and tendency for their and other stakeholders’ (in)actions to perpetuate and prolong their exposure to harm. The paper concludes with a call to action, emphasising the urgent imperative for stakeholders across relevant sectors to share both responsibility and risk in responding to the needs of women affected by SMD.
About the speaker
Professor Sarah Johnsen is Director of the Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health at the University of Edinburgh. She has been involved in research on homelessness and related forms of ‘street culture (e.g. begging and street drinking) for more than 20 years. Much of Sarah’s most recent work has focused on the experiences of and policy responses for people experiencing homelessness who are concomitantly affected by substance use, poor mental health, and/or other associated forms of disadvantage.
If you would like to attend this free online event, please follow the link below to book a place.
https://forms.office.com/e/pQtt7EtNEe
This is Seminar 8 of the 2025/26 Centre for Gender and Violence Research Seminar Series. Please see the 2026 Events page for further events in this series.