McMaster’s Community Research Platform has partnered with the YWCA of Hamilton and the Community-University Policy Alliance (McMaster School of Social Work) to focus on the need for integrated, low-barrier reproductive health care and pregnancy services for people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton. The issue was exacerbated over the last year, as access to prenatal health care services, contraceptive options, abortions, and many other essential services became exponentially more difficult during the pandemic. 

In response to these issues, the CRP convened a group of researchers and students to work in partnership with a team from the YWCA Hamilton to organize a call-to-action forum to bring attention to this critical issue.  In advance of the forum, researchers interviewed individuals with lived experience of being pregnant and homeless. This feedback helped to inform the development of concrete recommendations to improve supports for those experiencing pregnancy and homelessness in Hamilton.