Every night in BC, women fleeing violence are forced to sleep in their cars because there’s nowhere else to go. With shelters full and housing unaffordable, they face a devastating choice: return to an abusive partner or risk homelessness.
This crisis is invisible to many but deeply felt by women who live it. Housing is not just about shelter—it’s about survival, dignity, and independence. For women escaping abuse, safe housing can mean the difference between life and death.
Economic abuse plays a critical role in this crisis, as it often strips women of the financial resources needed to secure safe housing, leaving them trapped in cycles of violence or homelessness.
This 16 Days of Activism and Economic Abuse Day, let’s talk about invisible homelessness because women deserve better.
What Is Invisible Homelessness?
Invisible homelessness happens out of sight, away from shelters and streets, where it often escapes public attention. For women fleeing abuse, this includes:
- Living in their cars for safety, yet lacking access to basic facilities.
- Couch-surfing in temporary situations.
- Returning to abusive homes because shelters are full or unaffordable housing is unattainable.
Invisible homelessness disproportionately affects women and often goes uncounted in official statistics, masking the true scale of the crisis.
The Role of Economic Abuse
Economic abuse often precedes invisible homelessness, acting as a tool of control in intimate partner violence. Abusive partners may withhold money, sabotage employment, destroy credit, or create financial dependence, leaving women without the means to secure housing when they decide to leave.
In Canada, 59% of women experiencing domestic violence also report financial abuse. This deliberate economic control forces many women into situations where escaping violence means facing homelessness without adequate support.
Housing Is a Lifeline, Not a Luxury
For women escaping abuse, safe housing is more than a roof—it’s survival, independence, and a chance to rebuild. However, BC’s housing crisis leaves countless women with no viable options.
- Shelters are overwhelmed, often turning away women in urgent need.
- Affordable housing is unattainable, leaving women in temporary and unsafe conditions.
Without stable housing, women are forced to remain in dangerous environments, exposing themselves and their children to further violence.
Rent Subsidies in BC
The work at BWSS has grown substantially over recent years in response to increasing demand. Last year alone, we responded to over 52,649 service requests, reflecting the desperate need for immediate support and intervention. Despite our efforts, we continue to see long waitlists for transition house and shelter spaces, with too many women turned away due to the lack of safe, affordable housing options.
We are urging government officials to consider policy priorities during this transition period and to support targeted rental subsidies for women fleeing intimate partner violence. The intersection of housing and violence against women is critical; current market data reveals that the average monthly rent in B.C. has reached $2,300 for a one-bedroom and $3,750 for a two-bedroom, making safe, independent housing nearly impossible for those escaping abusive situations. For many women, this barrier to affordability forces a return to unsafe environments, which is not only a personal tragedy but a public health crisis.
This policy aligns with British Columbia’s broader goals for housing and affordability but emphasizes specific actions to support marginalized women, including racialized, Indigenous, and immigrant women. The statistics are harrowing: Indigenous women, for instance, are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Additionally, immigrant women—who may have limited financial resources or legal protections—are often trapped in cycles of violence with no clear pathway to safety.
For these women, housing is more than a necessity; it’s a lifeline.
The Path Forward: What Needs to Change
Gender-based violence is at epidemic levels, and ending it begins with ensuring women have a safe place to call home. Addressing invisible homelessness is essential to bringing safety and security to all women.
- Expand Safe Housing: Prioritize long-term, affordable options for women fleeing violence.
- Provide Economic Supports: Offer financial literacy training, employment programs, and emergency funds to rebuild independence.
- Recognize Invisible Homelessness: Include women outside shelters in homelessness data to reveal the crisis’s true scale.
- Support Wraparound Services: Invest in organizations like BWSS that provide counselling, legal advocacy, and financial education.
Take action today by donating and sharing our resources to raise awareness. Together, we can bring safety and take action to end gender-based violence.
You are not alone.
If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:
Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org
