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Charities have raised concerns that many homeless women remain invisible in official statistics, warning that current figures do not fully capture the true scale of female rough sleeping in England. Victoria, a 31-year-old woman who experienced homelessness for three years in London, illustrates the challenges faced by many women living on the streets. Despite roaming around areas such as King’s Cross railway station, her lack of stereotypical signs of rough sleeping—such as drinking or drug use—meant that her homelessness was often overlooked. “When people used to see me, they didn’t believe I was homeless,” she explains.
Victoria’s experience highlights the difficulties faced by homeless women, including mental health struggles that both contributed to and worsened during her time on the streets. The constant threat of theft and harassment made even attempting to sleep overnight precarious. “I wasn’t sleeping because I had lots of luggage and King’s Cross is bad for thieves,” she says, recalling how even public toilets provided no refuge as staff regularly evicted her. The busy environment and security presence in the station did provide some sense of safety, yet her homelessness often went unnoticed because she blended in with the flow of commuters.
A recent census, undertaken by Solace Women’s Aid and the Single Homeless Project, paints a broader and more troubling picture of rough sleeping among women. Collecting data from 33 London councils and 68 others across England, the research uncovered that 1,406 women had slept rough within the prior three months—significantly higher than official government estimates. In fact, where comparisons were possible, the census found roughly ten times more female rough sleepers than recorded in government data. The charities argue that official government counts capture only those visibly sleeping out on a specific night, overlooking those who stay in less obvious places or temporary shelters, and that this undercounting particularly affects women.
Outreach workers Eabha and Elise describe finding women in unexpected and well-hidden locations such as under bushes in parks or aboard night buses and trains, highlighting how female rough sleepers often evade traditional detection methods. They note that women also seek refuge in places like hospital emergency departments, hoping not to be moved on. This under-recognition is compounded by the additional risks women face, including harassment and abuse. Victoria recalls instances of being harassed and taken advantage of because of her homelessness.
Lucy Campbell from the Single Homeless Project emphasizes the consequences of this invisibility: “As a woman rough sleeper, you’re far, far less likely to be discovered rough sleeping and that’s your route into services, into support, into accommodation.” The charities state that two-thirds of women identified in their census would have been missed by the government’s narrower counting methodology.
The official government figures rely on snapshots taken on a single night, counting only those visibly sleeping in unsuitable places. In contrast, the charities’ approach included a wider range of locations and insights from local authorities, offering a more comprehensive understanding of female rough sleeping. Rebecca Goshawk of Solace Women’s Aid underscores the gap in services for women and links the issue directly to domestic abuse: “Domestic abuse is the primary cause of women’s rough sleeping… Decision-makers need to take action to fulfil their promises on women’s safety.”
While the government has committed to halving long-term rough sleeping in England by the end of the current Parliament, the charities insist this target cannot be met without a clearer recognition of the female experience and changes to the definition of rough sleeping. The Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern acknowledged the distinct needs of women experiencing homelessness, stating, “No one should have to endure rough sleeping, and as this census outlines, women can have different experiences and needs.” She also highlighted government efforts, including working with councils and investing £3.6 billion to combat homelessness
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