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A camera can reveal more than statistics, it can tell the human stories.

In the case of homeless women, these stories are often ignored or reduced to impersonal numbers. But behind every statistic is a person with a history, struggles, and a fight for dignity that is rarely acknowledged.

JM Simpson explores in this essay how homelessness affects women in ways that are often overlooked. Through his photographs and contemplations, Simpson reflects on the resilience and challenges faced by homeless women.

This photo essay explores the intersection of homelessness and women’s rights, offering a deeper look through documentary photography.

Photography allows us to see homeless women as individuals, each one with a unique story of hardship.

Acknowledging Homeless Women by JM Simpson

International Women’s Day is recalled every year on March 8th. It represents an important opportunity to reflect and highlight not only the strength and resilience of woman around the globe who have overcome adversity, but also to be mindful of the growing number of women experiencing homelessness.

“We have come dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem that we just can’t solve.” Linda Lingle

International Women’s Day grew out of the labor movement at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1908, over 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. One year later the Socialist Party of America declared the first Woman’s Day.

Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights furthered the idea of women’s rights when she suggested the creation of an international day during an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. The 100 women present, representing 17 countries, unanimously agreed. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911.

The specific date of March 8th was not formalized until a wartime strike – begun on March 8, 1917 – occurred when Russian women demanded “bread and peace.” For many years after, the day grew in popularity in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

“People can be so apathetic. They continue to ignore the real people trapped in poverty and homelessness. It’s almost maddening.” Daphne Zuniga

In 1975 the United Nations Organization celebrated International Women’s Year, and two years later it officially supported the annual honoring of women’s rights known as International Women’s Day “to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women’s rights.”

“Before you ignore another homeless person on the street, just remember that that could be someone’s father or someone’s mother and they have a story.” Syesha Mercado

International Women’s Day is now global, and it highlights the social, political, cultural and economic achievements of women. In a call for continued efforts to promote women’s issues, the theme for 2025 is #AccelerateAction.

Let’s hope there are accelerated efforts to end homelessness – women, children and men - around the globe.

“Hungry not only for bread – but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing – but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks – but homeless because of rejection.” Mother Teresa

You include powerful quotes about homelessness throughout your piece. Were there any personal stories, encounters, or research findings that particularly shaped your perspective while writing this article? How do individual narratives help humanize the crisis beyond statistics?

My reason for writing this article is to recognize the confluence of history and documentary photography - in this case the acknowledgement of how women in general and homeless women in particular are still treated and/or viewed as second-class individuals.

I am aware of the rising number of homeless women across the globe (30 percent), in the United States (33 percent) and here in the Olympia, Washington area (38.4 percent). While good for statistical analysis for discussion groups, these percentages do not begin to tell the story behind why these women are unsheltered and how they became homeless in the first place. Each and every homeless woman I have talked with has a unique and painful story to relate, and it is their stories that motivate me to write about and photographically document them.

Homelessness is often discussed in broad terms, yet the experiences of homeless women are uniquely shaped by factors like domestic violence, gender-based violence, and lack of access to healthcare. What are some of the most overlooked challenges faced by homeless women, and how can we shift public perception to foster greater empathy and action?

The first sentence of this query is absolutely correct; it relates perfectly with the personal histories of the women viewed in the photographs accompanying this article. They have been impacted by domestic violence, wage disparity, lack of education, healthcare and social services, substance abuse, and in many instances the lack of shelters to meet their specific needs.

But more to the point, I believe the biggest challenge facing the homeless is the apparent lack of concern – perhaps indifference is a better word – of those in positions to create viable solutions to confronting homelessness. For example, the fact that there are very few shelters specifically for homeless women is telling; why is this so?

Many homeless women I talk with ask this very question. And because there are no homeless shelters for women in Olympia, Washington, many of these women live on the streets because they do not want to share a shelter with homeless men.

I wish I had an answer as to how to shift public perception – how to shatter the stereotypes of the homeless in general and of women in particular – except to say that I write and photograph with the purpose of doing just that. How far my documentary photography will go in changing in what I perceive to be public and political indifference to the growing numbers of homeless individuals remains to be seen.

Homelessness & Women

Hungry

Only 17

Seeking Rest.jpeg

Tarped & Dry

Third Eye

Uncertainity

Untrusting

Your essay touches on the historical significance of International Women’s Day. How can this annual observance be used as a catalyst for tangible policy changes or community-driven initiatives that directly address the homelessness crisis among women?

International Women’s Day is not about encouraging women to be stronger and smarter; they already are stronger and smarter. The day is about changing the way in which their strengths and intelligence are perceived – as demonstrated by the words of Linda Lingle, Daphne Zuniga, Syesha Mercado, and Mother Teresa and many others.

These women have made a difference, and the examples of their works and words can and must further policy and societal change on both national and local levels around the world to directly, humanely and logically address the issue of homelessness.

International Women’s Day is a catalyst for addressing the issue of global homelessness if only those in positions of influence look at and listen to the over 150 million homeless women and men in the world today.