HOMELESS WOMEN

1,238
Estimated number of homeless women in Albuquerque's International District alone

42
Average age of death of homeless women in Albuquerque

There were only three causes of death recorded among this population: illness/overdose due to substance abuse; suicide; and homicide

7th grade or below

Average reading level of homeless women in Albuquerque

Up to 76%
Percentage of women who have been raped since being homeless*

0
Number of beds for women at homeless shelters within Albuquerque city limits

Up to 87%
Percentage of women who have been severely attacked since becoming homeless*

includes being kicked, bitten, beaten up, choked, burned, or harmed with a knife or gun

1%
Percentage of men who have been raped since being homeless

147
Number of beds for men at homeless shelters within Albuquerque city limits

“Violent victimization was so high [among homeless women] as to amount to normative experience for this population” —
 

Comment by researchers 

1. Kushel, M., et al. No Door to Lock — Victimization Among Homeless and Marginally Housed Persons. 2003;163(20):2492-2499.

2. Wenzel S., Koegel P,. and Gelberg L. Antecedents Of Physical And Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Women: A Comparison To Homeless Men. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2000 Jun;28(3):367-90.

3. Wenzel S., Leake B., and Gelberg L. Risk Factors for Major Violence Among Homeless Women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2001. 16:8:739-752

4. Goodman, L. Dutton, MA, and Harris, M. Episodically homeless women with serious mental illness: prevalence of physical and sexual assault. 1995. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 65(4):468-78