Charities Count 1,406 Women Sleeping Rough in England, 10 Times Official Figures
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Charities Count 1,406 Women Sleeping Rough in England, 10 Times Official Figures
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Summary
A week-long census in September 2025 found 1,406 women had slept rough in the previous three months across 101 English local authorities, including all 33 London councils.
The charities said official counts miss hidden homelessness because they capture one night and narrower locations; two-thirds of women in the census would not have been recorded under that method.
In comparable areas, the survey found nearly twice England's official autumn 2025 total of 733 women, and it identified 162 female rough sleepers in six areas where official data recorded none.
Outreach workers said women often avoid visible street sleeping by staying on buses, trains, in A&E departments or concealed outdoor spots, partly for safety and to avoid harassment.
Solace Women's Aid and the Single Homeless Project said domestic abuse is the main driver of women's rough sleeping and urged ministers to widen the definition as the government pursues a pledge to halve long-term rough sleeping, backed by £3.6 billion.
Why do official figures miss thousands of homeless women despite a £3.6 billion plan to solve the crisis?
If women must hide on night buses to survive, can new domestic abuse laws truly keep them from losing their homes?
The Hidden Homeless: 1,000 Women Sleeping Rough in London—Why Official Figures Fall Short
Overview
This report reveals that homelessness among women is far more widespread than official figures show, mainly due to hidden homelessness and a lack of gender-informed data collection. Recent charity research, including a dedicated census, found that many more women are sleeping rough than government statistics suggest. This undercounting leaves vulnerable women without proper support and makes it difficult to create effective, tailored policies. The findings highlight the urgent need for better data collection methods and gender-specific services to ensure that all women experiencing homelessness are accurately counted and receive the help they need.