Female homelessness is often far less visible than the official figures suggest. A census carried out by Solace Women’s Aid and Single Homeless Project in September 2025 identified 1,406 women who had slept rough in the previous three months. By comparison, the Government’s official autumn 2025 snapshot recorded 733 women sleeping rough on a single night across England. In areas where the figures could be directly compared, the charities found 10 times as many female rough sleepers as were recorded in official government data. The census also identified 162 women sleeping rough in six local authority areas where the official figures recorded none.

There are several reasons why women experiencing homelessness can remain hidden. Women may avoid sleeping in obvious public places because of the risks of violence, sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse, instead seeking relative safety in places such as night buses, hospital waiting rooms, train stations, parks or secluded areas. Some move between temporary accommodation, friends’ or relatives’ homes and the streets, meaning they may not meet the definition of rough sleeping when official counts take place. Domestic abuse is also a significant factor in women’s homelessness, with some women leaving unsafe relationships and having nowhere secure to go. The photograph above is of two women we met on our summer outreach in Liverpool, both of whom cited domestic violence as the reason for being on the street. Mental health difficulties, poverty, rising housing costs and a lack of affordable accommodation can add further pressure.

The growing number of women sleeping rough is a reminder that homelessness is not always visible or easily recognised. Women can become homeless for a complex combination of reasons, while the shortage of affordable housing and support services can make it increasingly difficult to find a safe route off the streets. The latest census suggests that many women are falling through the gaps in the way homelessness is identified and counted – and that the true scale of female rough sleeping may be considerably greater than official statistics indicate.