A meta-ethnographic systematic review of women's experiences of homelessness in high income environments.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Homelessness is a significant public policy and health service challenge globally. Often identified as a 'wicked problem' homelessness is hard to define with limited data confirming the exact numbers of people who are homeless due to varying metrics employed many of which likely exclude women by design. Research and policy have primarily focused on the experiences of single men, and the impact of homelessness on women and their experiences of it are not well understood.

Objective

To synthesise evidence from qualitative studies of homelessness to identify key dimensions of women in high-income countries (HIC) and their experiences navigating lives when homeless.

Methods

Systematic searches of six databases [MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, PsycINFO, CINAHL an

SUBMITTER: Radcliffe M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12818621 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature