Female rough sleeping more than four times higher than current data suggests
Our investigation into female rough sleeping sees the eye-opening findings of a new report
Our investigation into female rough sleeping has seen the eye-opening findings of a new report on the scale of the issue, which suggests it's more than four times bigger than previously calculated.
The Women's Rough Sleeping Census, authored by a Change Grow Live, sets out findings from a week-long, national census of women sleeping rough in 41 local authorities across England.
Whereas the government's current "Autumn Snapshot" would have expected to find 189 women rough sleeping in these areas, outreach teams conducting the new census found 815 women.
We recently spent time in York - where we found one homeless woman, who was sleeping behind a bin for safety.
READ: Investigation reveals the realities for female rough sleepers in the UK
Across England the findings include:
- 815 women counted rough sleeping in 41 local authority areas.
- The current Autumn Snapshot found less than 600 in the whole of England last year
- The city of Coventry had just one female rough sleeper on its autumn count, whereas this census found more than 60.
- Nottinghamshire's count went from one female rough sleeper to 41.
- The number of women in London was double the current estimates.
- Gloucestershire was thought to have no female rough sleepers, where 21 were identified by the new research.
In Greater Manchester alone, there were 188 female rough sleepers counted by the new census - compared to just five who appear on the regular annual account.
Charities are concerned lack of reliable data has led to years of underfunding to gender-specific services which are better equipped to support the needs of female rough sleepers.
How female rough sleepers are counted
The difference is explained by the methodology of each count - with the current Autumn Snapshot only capturing those who are visibly "bedding down" for the night on a single night in autumn.
A coalition of women's and homeless organisations say this does not reflect how women rough sleep - and show a gender bias in how the government ascertains rough sleeping figures.
This new research spent a week looking for rough sleepers away from high streets, and inside places like 24 hour cafes, night buses and hospital A&Es.
None of these forms of rough sleeping are encompassed within the current government rough sleeping definition, meaning that women’s experiences are not recognised and their homelessness is less likely to be resolved.
Female rough sleepers share their stories
Women who completed the census survey told volunteers about their experiences:
“As a female, you feel vulnerable and I was scared to sleep outside in case anything bad happened to me. You feel people look down on you. I think a lot of girls choose random places to stay, and there are a lot of homeless women.”
“It’s cold outside, it's tough and scary. When you're a woman and so vulnerable and you’ve got no help, you go to somewhere like a station and think I'll be ok - and then it's not ok, it's closed or there are other intimidating scary people there. I don't talk to staff or security when they ask if I’m ok because I don’t know if I’ll be made to leave.”
“I would roam around and travel on buses. As a female, you can’t just go to the corner of a road and sleep. It’s not safe.”
Calls for action on female rough sleeping
These findings echo those of our investigation into female rough sleeping, where charities told us the current snapshot method was missing women on the streets, because they were more likely to hide away, not bed down for the night, or find some sort of night-time establishment to stay in before returning to the streets in the morning.
Safety was a key priority for the women we spoke to, and a major reason why they weren't more visible for the autumn count.
The coalition behind the report is now calling for the Government to change the way that women's rough sleeping is recognised, counted and responded to:
- Make homelessness policies gender-informed: Current rough sleeping definitions, strategies and practices are based predominantly on the experiences of men. The government should use the findings from the census to ensure its policy and guidance are gender-informed and provide an equitable response to those who are rough sleeping.
- Resource and lead the women’s rough sleeping census: The Government should lead the women’s rough sleeping census, supporting every local authority in England to conduct it annually.
- Conduct an equalities impact assessment: All government data collected on rough sleeping should be subject to an equalities impact assessment to ensure that data collection methods are inclusive of women and minoritised groups.
'Far more women rough sleep than we previously understood'
Nahar Choudhury, Solace CEO told us: ‘The key findings from the census show that Rough Sleeping is inequitable and inherently gender biased and that there is an urgent need for policy reform to ensure fairness, accuracy and inclusivity in data collection, as well as highlighting the need for collaborative efforts between all local authorities to deliver the census in their area, giving a more accurate representation of groups.
"We know, all too well, the dangers women face when homeless and the well evidenced link between domestic abuse and homelessness. It’s important that policy makers acknowledge this and implement the changes needed.’
Lucy Campbell, Head of Multiple Disadvantage at Single Homeless Project said: “Since we first launched the census in London in 2022, we have used the results to demonstrate that far more women sleep rough than previously understood and encourage more local authorities to join us and call for action
"This year’s results from 815 women around England tell us more about how, when and where they sleep rough. The body of evidence shows that women’s needs are not being met, largely due to current Government policies and practices which are based predominantly on the experiences of men.
"This is an equalities issue that needs urgent attention from central government so that women experiencing this devastating form of homelessness are not further marginalised by the support systems that are meant to help them.”
We've been meeting one woman sleeping rough in York
Government stats suggest there are no female rough sleepers in York.
But we met one homeless woman in the City who told us she deliberately hides away to keep safe.
"When I first was homeless I stayed in a tent, but it happened three times, the tent was destroyed or someone burnt it down, so I don't do that anymore.
"I'll stay in allotments, sheds, behind shops, sometimes underneath benches is a good one.
She told us she agrees that women are much more likely to stay hidden than men "I'll try and hide, I don't want to be seen, but even with that, on a Friday night, you will often get people stumbling down (to where I'm staying) so I try and stay out of town on a Friday night."
"I've aged 10 years in the last five. I can feel the difference."
What is the Government doing?
A Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the group behind the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census and have promoted the census to all local authorities.
"We know that women sleeping rough need specific support, which is why we are working with charities on the census to give better information to help women off the streets.
"We are also spending £2.4 billion on tackling rough sleeping and homelessness across the country.”
Read more on our investigation into female rough sleeping.