Housing is a feminist issue

After 10 years of negotiations, and three years of tireless support from L&Q’s development team, we were delighted when the London Borough of Ealing granted planning permission for Women’s Pioneer Housing (WPH) to build 102 new homes on our existing site in Ealing.

WPH has been providing affordable homes in safe and desirable areas for over 100 years and promoting the need for greater access to affordable housing for single women. Our founders recognised the need for affordable homes for professional women at a time when women were striving to gain independence, and the professional working woman was largely confined to sharing rooms in boarding houses, with strict rules and no opportunity to really live independently.

Over 100 years later, issues such as the cost of living crisis, poor wages, an ongoing rise in domestic abuse and a lack of support for women leaving prison all evidence a clear link between women’s homelessness and structural gender inequality. In April, WPH was featured in an article about our development in Ealing. The concept of ‘women only’ homes was challenged. At the same time, we opened our housing waiting list and, within just two weeks, we received over 200 applications from single women struggling to find affordable homes in London. Our residents tell us that having a safe, affordable home supports their ability to live independently. Our waiting list applicants demonstrate the ongoing need for WPH’s work. Although our women tenants may later introduce a partner and/or have a family in their home, our approach ensures that only the woman holds the tenancy. If the relationship breaks down, that woman knows that they are not at risk of losing their home. Our founders recognised the need to take this approach – can we really say that it no longer exists?

On 12 June, we will join an inspirational group of women speaking at the Women’s Housing Forum’s relaunch to discuss women’s housing needs.

The Women's Housing Forum (WHF) believe housing is a feminist issue. Our goal is to improve the access and delivery of housing for women and influence housing providers, policy makers and others to address women's specific needs in the services they offer.

This event is open to professionals working within and outside the housing sector who want to learn more about women's challenges in accessing and keeping their homes.

On the day, we will discuss the links between structural gender inequality and housing, and our keynote speakers will bring their distinct perspectives on this key issue.

Our workshops will further explore some of these issues to highlight what practical steps social housing providers and policymakers can take to better meet women's housing needs.

Join us to hear more about why we believe housing is a feminist issue!