40% of Women Experiencing Homelessness Report Lifetime Sexual Violence, Meta-Analysis Finds
Feb 23rd 2026
A systematic review of 21 studies up to March 2023 found roughly 40 percent of women experiencing homelessness have suffered sexual violence in their lifetimes, a rate significantly higher than for housed women and for men who are homeless, prompting calls for gender-sensitive housing and trauma-informed care.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 studies up to March 2023 estimated about 40 percent lifetime prevalence of sexual violence among women experiencing homelessness.
- The prevalence among homeless women was significantly higher than among housed women and higher than among men experiencing homelessness.
- The research team conducted five meta-analyses to reach their pooled estimates.
- The study is published in Journal of Urban Health (2026) and was registered at PROSPERO CRD42024605682.
- Data supporting the study are available from the corresponding author on request and the authors reported no competing interests.
- Authors recommend gender-sensitive housing policies and trauma-informed interventions to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of women experiencing homelessness.