CALL FOR ACTION ON SHORTAGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES IN GALWAY

Date Published: 31-Oct-2012

Action must be taken to tackle the current shortage of domestic violence services available to women in Galway and the country’s other main cities.

That’s according to a major study which provides a detailed examination of the lives and experiences of homeless women with specific attention to their homeless ‘pathways’.

Women from homeless and domestic violence services in Galway were part of a group of sixty women nationwide, aged between 18 and 62 years, who participated in the research led by Trinity College in Dublin.

The study found that 72 percent of the women had experienced violence and/or abuse during childhood and two-thirds had experienced intimate partner violence in adulthood, making gender-based violence a strong feature of women’s biographical accounts.

That study was unveiled today [Oct 31] as part of the official launch of the Sonas Housing review for 2011.

Paula Mayock of Trinity College is behind the research which focused on Galway, Dublin and Cork.

She says better access to housing for homeless women is also needed