According to a recent report from Colorado Coalition for the HomelessofMay 2022, about 3,000 women are unhoused statewide. Women are also more likely to be homeless than men. About half of homeless women say domestic violence is the main reason they do not have a permanent home.
To say that living without a home affects women’s mental health is an understatement, Carmen said.
“Life on the streets is a constant battle. Most people lose their minds on the streets,” she explained.
Carmen said it’s not frustrating trying to find a home and a job at the same time.
“I’m a medical assistant, and it’s hard for me to go to the doctor’s office when I’m not in the shower, I wear my uniform to go to work, but I’m literally watching what’s going on, so I’m sleeping all night.” No,” she said.
Non-Detained Cisgender Women Access to menstrual hygiene products is also difficult, making survival and living outside the home even more difficult. Carmen said it is often impossible just to find a bathroom to use.
“People won’t let us use the toilet, so we have to hold our urine, we have to pee outside. We get kidney infections and become dehydrated.” I can’t drink enough because there’s no place to go to the toilet,” she added.
[Related: Study: First-time homelessness doubled in Denver area during 2021]
Carmen added that getting medical attention could be nearly impossible.
“We get sick because we are exposed to the elements and cannot eat vegetables or take vitamins,” she said. Gas stations are expensive, so it’s all done in a week. This is how we live. ”
She also told Rocky Mountain PBS how not being housed is causing a mental health crisis.
“I got PTSD from being chased on the street by a car.
For Carmen, finding a way to survive each day is all she can do. She talked about a night when she didn’t know where to sleep recently.
“I went to the airport. It was the only place I felt safe as a woman,” she said. in such danger. ”
Dana Knowles is a multimedia journalist for Rocky Mountain PBS.you can contact her danaknowles@rmpbs.org.
Lindsey Ford is a multimedia journalist for Rocky Mountain PBS.you can contact her lindseyford@rmpbs.org.
William Peterson is Senior Photojournalist for Rocky Mountain PBS.you can contact him williampeterson@rmpbs.org.
