The Lady Musgrave Trust 17^th Annual Forum on Women and Homelessness

Homelessness is not a momentary crisis – it can become a cycle. One that can span generations, passed down like an unwanted legacy. But with the right support, this cycle can be disrupted – even rewritten.

Now in its 17th year, the Annual Forum on Women and Homelessness brings together women with lived experience, sector leaders, front line workers, researchers and policymakers to spark meaningful dialogue and drive lasting change. 

This year’s theme, “All ladders, no snakes,” is our call to action to dismantle the systemic barriers that hold women and children back, and build ladders of opportunity that lead to long-term stability, independence and hope.

At the 2025 Forum, we explored:

• The transformative power of secure housing
• Education as an opportunity for early intervention for mother and child
• Keeping families together through gender-informed housing policy 
• Measuring success: outcomes for individuals, services and funders
• State-by-state insights into women’s housing solutions

We heard from mothers who’ve rewritten their family stories, and from the changemakers working to ensure no child inherits homelessness as their future.