Hosting women who have experienced trauma

"It is crucial that the guest gets to choose the host as all other choices have been taken away from them". (Hosting organisation)

NDTi have partnered with Shared Lives Plus to research the impact of hosting women who have experienced trauma in a family home. The aim of this research is to look at the potential benefits of a hosting arrangement for this group of women, compared to common alternatives used, or the absence of provision. To do this, we sought to answer the following questions:

• What is hosting and how is it being used for women who have experienced trauma, including women who have escaped modern slavery? What is the nature of these hosting arrangements?
• What is the experience of vulnerable women in hosting arrangements? What is the experience of hosts?
• What about these hosting arrangements is working well, and what challenges are there? What is the impact on vulnerable women being hosted?

This research report draws on data from host organisations, hosts and women themselves. It provides insights into hosting as a potential model of accommodation for women who have experienced trauma and information on hosting for the professionals who support them.

We found that host organisations, hosts and women who participated in this research agreed that hosting can be a positive alternative to existing limited housing options for women who have experienced trauma. We were provided with many examples of women who found the comfort and security of a host’s home a lifeline. Read more in the full report here.