Housing : Situation, Preferences, Accessibility And Services.
Types Of Housing
Accordion Content
Slightly over half (51%) of women and girls in the sex industry and 37% of those who are no longer part of it, say they have spent one night in their own apartment or house without rent subsidy in the last six months.
More than half of them do not live in their own apartment or house without rent subsidy
Respondents outside the sex industry stay with family or a partner.
Those who are currently in the sex industry tend to stay with a friend, a sugar daddy or other people also involved in the sex industry.
Women and girls who left the sex industry are more likely to have spent one night with a family member or partner in the last six months.
Those who are still involved in prostitution are more likely to have spent a night with a john or stranger in exchange of sexual services.
Over a third of the women and girls surveyed have lived in the same place for less than six months.
Respondents who are or have been escorts (4%) are the least likely to stay with a family member, unlike those who are or have worked in pornography (13%).
Respondents who worked in pornography are also the most likely to have their own non-subsidized apartment (19%).
Those who most practice couchsurfing are the respondents who have been or currently are in street prostitution (12%).
Those who say they have or had a sugar daddy tend to be the most numerous to sleep over at such an individual’s (10%).
Living Arrangements
Accordion Content
More than 60% of the women and girls surveyed do not live alone.
37 % of respondents that have left the sex industry are living alone and 41 % for the respondents that are in the sex industry.
The majority of them permanently live with one or two people, most often with their children (under 18 years of age), or with friends or acquaintances.
The vast majority of respondents said that people living with them are permanently housed.
The minority of those who offer temporary accommodation mostly report doing so for 1 person.
Satisfaction With Housing
Women and girls in the sex industry generally have a neutral opinion (47%) of their current housing situation, but are less satisfied than those who are no longer involved in prostitution.
Respondents who left the sex industry were more likely to report feeling comfortable (17%) and having a healthy environment (15%) in their current home.
Respondents, who are in the sex industry are much more likely to report the cost of housing as being too high (18%) and being in an inadequate environment (13%).
Preferences: Types Of Housing
Nevertheless, subsidized housing (19%) or rent subsidy (16%) are also desireable options for women and girls who have left prostitution.
Respondents who are or have been strip dancers (42%) or escorts (38%) are more likely to want subsidized housing, while those who are or have worked in pornography are the least interested in this type of housing (10%).
Living Arrangements
More than half of respondents would like to live alone. They are 47% for the respondents that have left the sex industry and 61% for the ones who are still in the industry.
Women and girls currently in the sex industry are therefore more likely to want to live alone.
The majority of respondents preferring to live alone mention the need for privacy and serenity (85% of ROSI and 73% of RISI) as well as the desire to be independent and free (74% of ROSI and 55% of RISI)
Of the respondents who did not want to live alone, over 40% of those currently in the sex industry mentioned that they preferred to live with others to have companionship, share costs, safety, and for love and parental responsibility.
These same responses were also given by over 50% of women and girls who are no longer in the sex industry.
Lack of self-esteem and self-confidence, was an obstacle cited by 38% of respondents who managed to conclusively leave the sex industry after multiple attempts but is only cited by 17% of those who unsuccessfully tried leaving.
Services Associated With Housing
Accordion Content
Most of the respondents that are or were in the sex industry desire a secure access (intercom, security, camera, etc.) and the presence of a security guard.
There is significant interest among respondents who left the sex trade for financial assistance programs (housing or other) and the presence of stakeholders, in contrast to respondents who are still in the sex industry.
The majority of respondents wish to have individual therapy or psychological support services related to the sex industry (55% of ROSI and 59% of RISI).
RISI = Respondents Inside the Sex Industry
ROSI =Respondents Outside the Sex Industry
