Homeless Shelter Policies for Women in an Urban Environment

A survey of shelters serving women in Chicago (N = 43) identified admission criteria, policies and services, estimated the number of homeless women in childbearing years served by the shelters, the number who were pregnant or mothers with children, and identified unmet health needs and health services provided. The majority (64%) of the women using shelters were African American and there was great variability in shelter policies. Women with male children more than seven years old, pregnant women and substance abusers were less likely to be admitted.