Solidarity housing for women in situations of social vulnerability
Sunday, March 8 was International Women's Rights Day! Without wanting to get into any controversy, it is clear that in the 21st century, which claims to be egalitarian, the simple fact of being born a woman creates a difference.
Sunday, March 8 was International Women's Rights Day! Without wanting to enter into any controversy, it is clear that in a 21st century that aims to be egalitarian, the simple fact of being born a woman creates a difference.
Housing is a right for all: it is enshrined in several international texts such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the European Social Charter. It states that "everyone has the right to lead a life in accordance with human dignity... and to decent housing."
This issue, as Amazone explains, "is mostly experienced by women and particularly those who are in a situation of social vulnerability (single women, elderly women) because they are more quickly and more severely affected by poverty (lower resources, precarious employment, part-time work, etc.)."
Gender inequality in the workplace
Gender inequality already persists in the workplace. Women represent 48% of the active population, a figure certainly steadily increasing over the past 50 years but also indicative of inequalities. Indeed, they hold 80% of part-time jobs. Salaries are also not equal. A woman earns on average 18% less than a man for the same position. The repercussions for them, daily and especially in the search for housing, are therefore significant. This is why there are also housing shelters for women that allow them to obtain stability for themselves and their children.
Common problems
Moreover, it appears that women are more often heads of single-parent families than men. As a result, they face at least two problems:
- The need for larger housing
- The need for help with daily tasks (childcare, cleaning, etc.) which allows them to keep their jobs, often their only source of income
Solidarity housing is a solution because by offering a room to a supportive cohabitant, housing in exchange for services, the host benefits from free daily help. Renting in exchange for services allows for significant savings and thus a welcome additional income during this period of crisis.