Kicked, urinated on, tents set on fire - we reveal the realities for female rough sleepers in the UK
Our new investigation looks at the reality of life, and the untold stories, of female rough sleepers
Last updated 18th Apr 2024
Each year, the homeless snapshot census tells the same story.
Although numbers may go up or down, the percentage of rough sleepers who are identified as female sits around the 13-15% mark - around one in seven.
But in releasing the figures annually, the government admits that "We recognise that sleeping patterns of females experiencing rough sleeping is more hidden and therefore may not be fully captured by the snapshot."
So what is the true picture of female rough sleeping? What are the consequences of not understanding the true scale? and what is the lived experience of these women on our streets?
Investigation into female rough sleeping
We've found the scale of rough sleeping by women could be significantly higher than the current snapshot measurement suggests.
Each autumn, teams travel across towns and cities in England and physically count people who are visibly bedded down for the night, or in the process of bedding down.
Many are in doorways on in shopfronts.
Figures for 2023 show 3,898 people were counted, 568 of which are female.
But our investigation has heard the number could be significantly higher
- Charities told us how women will often hideaway from visible locations for safety reasons.
- Many women will not bed down for the night and will stay in 24hr cafes or night-buses instead.
- Some will sofa-surf and not be counted on a specific night
- Some women are afraid to engage with services in case they're taken to all-male environments, and will try to remain hidden.
Women who sleep rough
Our investigation has heard that many women who find themselves sleeping rough come from abusive relationships, or have a history of domestic violence in their lives.
Many have issues with drugs or alcohol.
Some have had children taken away from them, and the average age of death of a female rough sleeper is just 43.
Our investigation also heard many find themselves in abusive relationships on the streets, and regularly face sexual threats and violence.
Karen's story
Karen slept rough for 15 years, after escaping an abusive relationship.
Her enforced addiction to heroin was replaced by alcohol addiction, and she found herself sleeping in a host of different places to try and survive life on the streets.
She told us: "I've slept in bus shelters, on the promenade, I've broken into garages and slept in there before now.
"The fear and the cold - I can't even describe it.
"I've been spat at, I've had things thrown at me, I've even been urinated on.
"I was sleeping in a doorway, and two guys on a night out came past and they thought it would be amusing to come up and kick me in the face."
Karen told us she slept in public toilets for years - after realising they were locked up each night: "I was sat nearby and I put my 20p in and tried to pull the door, and it wouldn't open, and I decided that was going to be my home.
"I'd get to them toilets just before 7pm. I could get out but no one could get in. I had a light, I had a toilet, I had a sink, and if it got cold I could use the hand-dryer to circulate hot air.
"I lived in there for years"
More homeless women share their stories
Another rough sleeper - who chose to remain anonymous - echoed some of the same issues, although they took place many miles from where Karen stayed.
She told us "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."
Female rough sleepers much more likely to stay hidden
Lucy Campbell, who is Head of Multiple Disadvantage at the Single Homeless Project told us she believes the number of women who are rough sleeping is much higher than the snapshot records show.
She agrees that the government's Autumn numbers only tell part of the story, because of how they're gathered, using the "bedding down" method.
She said "Women don't tend to rough sleep like that.
"They rough sleep like that when they reach absolute rock bottom and they don't have any other options, or they're so unwell that they don't have the ability to make decisions about their safety.
"We know that women who experience homelessness in all forms are at far higher risk of physical or sexual attack than males are, and so to respond to that, if you have to spend a night out in the elements, you're going to hide yourself away as much as possible.
"In the snapshot count, women make that small percentage of rough sleepers, whereas actually there's this whole population who are rough sleeping differently, less visibly, who are not included in that count."
The Single Homeless Project is now working with local authorities across the country to adopt a wider census of female rough sleeping, which looks at the experiences of women beyond the snapshot count.
They believe this will help create a truer picture of the scale of female rough sleeping.
The government has told this investigation this is an issue that they're looking at.
A DLUHC spokesperson said: "Women sleeping rough are less visible and need specific support. "We're spending £2.4 billion on ending rough sleeping and preventing homelessness, and working with charities on the Women's Rough Sleeping Census which will give better information to help women off the streets."
Concerns not enough homeless services support women
One of the consequences of not truly understanding the scale of the issue is that rough sleeping services don't have the data that backs up the need for female-led or female only spaces within current shelters.
Many people we've spoken to say women often don't feel safe in current provision, or have been forced to share spaces with people who've abused them in the past.
It's hoped that more education on the reality of female rough sleeping will allow councils to understand the needs of the rough sleeping community, and offer appropriate pathways to a life away from the streets.
Emily works for Embassy in Manchester, a charity that helps women and men out of homelessness - she told our investigation there needs to be much more awareness of how big an issue female rough sleeping is.
She said: "I speak at a lot of events, and on more than one occasion people have come up to me and asked 'Why do you do this, homeless isn't an issue for women' and it takes me aback.
"I've been able to see first hand how urgent care is needed in this area, and there are so many women in need and not enough organisations providing a holistic approach.
"It's obviously really hard to deal with for both genders, but when you consider that more than 50% of them have dealt with abuse, are dealing with it, or fleeing it, there's so many things more you have to consider.
"Anyone out and about is potentially a threat to them. Every day is a struggle and every day you're potentially in danger."
Rishi Sunak responds to our investigation on female rough sleeping
We asked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about what steps the government were taking to help and support female rough sleepers.
He told us: "What we are doing is investing considerable amounts to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, billions of pounds over last year, this year and next, and that has contributed with all the other interventions we're making with a 20% fall in rough sleeping since the peak, during the pandemic.
"We're doing that through various different interventions, the Homelessness Reduction Act, which means local authorities are proactive in supporting people.
"We're also creating 6000 move-on accommodation units which are making a difference.
"Lastly we're investing in tackling the underlying reasons people are sleeping rough which often involve alcohol or drug addiction, so investing in treatment and these services has also helped.
"We don't want to see anyone sleeping rough and that's why we're investing billions of pounds and the numbers show that plan is working, it is coming down and we're going to stick to it until we make sure we get everyone the support they need."
Factcheck: The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023 is 3,898, which has risen for the second year in a row, but remains lower than the peak in 2017.
- The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023 has risen by 27% since 2022.
- This is a decrease of 9% since 2019, which was before the introduction of COVID-19 related measures and is 18% lower than the peak in 2017. It is an increase of 120% since 2010 when the snapshot approach was introduced. (source: gov.uk)
Sir Keir "shocked" by the findings of our investigation
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer gave us his reaction to our investigation during a visit to the North East.
He told us: "What you've uncovered is shocking, and I think everyone would say that and see that and we absolutely need a government prepared to roll up its sleeves."
Sir Keir says the Labour Party would tackle the issue if they come to power, adding: "If you take Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, he's had a laser like focus on homelessness.
"So yes, we would take it very seriously we're shocked by the results (of the investigation) and the way through it is to work together to overcome this terrible problem."