Responding to Pregnancy, Infant Apprehension and Homelessness: Building Community Capacity for Adequate Housing and Support Through YWCA Hamilton

Women, trans and non-binary people who become pregnant while experiencing homelessness are disproportionately impacted by gender-based violence, intergenerational and colonial trauma, substance use and addictions, and poor physical and mental health. Existing Canadian-based research notes widespread lack of access to appropriate housing and community-based supports during pregnancy and postpartum for women, trans and non-binary people who experience street-level homelessness. A myriad of compounding structural inequities positions this population at a significant risk of having their newborn apprehended at birth by child welfare organizations. The purpose of this research partnership is to enable our team to research models of housing with wrap around support for pregnant people experiencing homelessness.