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23 times more women sleeping rough in Bristol than government count
Bristol’s first women’s census has found that 23 times more women are sleeping rough in our city than official government counts.
The latest findings from the third national Women’s Rough Sleeping Census reveal that government figures dramatically underestimate the number of women sleeping rough – including at a local level.
Published on Wednesday, Solace and Single Homeless Project alongside Crisis and Change Grow Live collected local data from areas throughout the UK in collaboration with local organisation.
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The first snapshot of Bristol’s rough sleeping population was collected in 2024 with St Mungo’s, The Nelson Trust, One25, Shelter and Bristol City Council.
Together they wanted to gather data from women to learn more about women’s experiences of homelessness in the city.
In Bristol we have a wide network of organisations working hard to prevent homelessness and support people in difficult situations – photo: One25
Across the country, the women’s census recorded more than ten times more women sleeping rough than the government’s snapshot data.
Niki Gould, director of women’s community services at the Nelson Trust, said that this data backs what so many of them already knew to be the case – that “so many women experiencing homelessness aren’t being seen.”
In Bristol, 66 women were identified by the week-long census count.
Through contact with trusted organisations over a three-month period, local insights meetings identified 349 women compared to just 15 women recorded by government snapshot counts.
The national women’s census, launched in 2023 by Solace and other homelessness charities, responds to the underrepresentation of women in traditional rough sleeping data.
Using more accurate methods, it captures the hidden nature of women’s homelessness and the widespread impact of domestic abuse and violence.
Unlike standard counts, it accounts for women sleeping in unsafe, hidden places or staying mobile at night to avoid harm – offering a clearer picture of their experiences across England.
Following the comprehensive collaboration in 2024, the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census is now set to take place annually, with the facilitation of local organisations.
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Jennifer Riley, CEO at One25, said: “The Bristol women’s census reveals a stark reality: hundreds of women in our city are experiencing homelessness.
“This data is a call to action – for fair funding and gender-informed services. Together, we can do more to ensure that every woman has a safe place to stay.”
As a women’s charity that reaches out to street sex-working women, One25 are regularly working with women who are more vulnerable living rough.
One of the women who completed the census survey told the teams: “I feel vulnerable. You have to rely on people who you can’t trust and don’t feel safe with.
“I don’t have the money to go into restaurants for shelter and have to put myself at risk and do things I don’t want to so I can get shelter for the night.
“To keep safe for a woman is more difficult. I have been raped by people while sleeping rough in a bank doorway.”
Those experiences have led that woman to now team up with a male rough sleeper so she isn’t so vulnerable.
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Laura Shovlin, regional head at St Mungo’s, said: “The numbers show there are significant amounts of women sleeping on the streets, with many more hidden from view meaning they are not included in official statistics.
“Rough sleeping is dangerous for everyone, but women on the streets – whether hidden or not – face frightening levels of sexual harassment, abuse and violence.
“Nobody should need to be seen rough sleeping to access the support they need.”
Laura has called for an end to the verification-based approach to assessing homelessness, which in practice varies significantly across organisations.
Some homelessness charities have expressed that the approach unintentionally creates barriers for people wanting access rough sleeping services and is particularly detrimental to those who are hidden homeless.
In addition she says this report demonstrates the need for more women-only spaces where everyone can access specialist trauma-informed support for their physical and mental health needs.
“The government must recognise women’s homelessness in its own right and fund it accordingly,” she says.
“The much-awaited homelessness strategy is a key opportunity to ensure that support for women affected by homelessness is delivered in a compassionate, appropriate way.”
Between 2019 and 2024 we have seen some of the most challenging cost of living conditions on record and homelessness and rough sleeping have increased significantly both in Bristol, and nationally – photo: One25
Andrew McCarthy, strategic lead for Shelter in Bristol, added: “Nobody should have to spend their nights sheltering from the elements in a flimsy tent or doorway, but this is the devastating reality for hundreds of people across Bristol.
“While rough sleeping is unsafe for anyone, women who are homeless often face the added risk of being vulnerable to violence, sexual assault, and harassment.
“The Bristol Women’s Census is a stark reminder that women often go under-recorded in the government’s rough sleeping counts, simply because of how risky it is to bed down in spaces that feel exposed.
“Working with local services to gain a more well-rounded picture is vital to understand the true extent of the housing emergency in Bristol.
“But to end homelessness for good, the government must build a new generation social rent homes and ensure that housing benefit actually covers the cost of people’s rents.”
Heather Mack, deputy leader of Bristol City Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see this first women’s rough sleeping census in Bristol.
“This is an important step towards addressing gender disparities in our homelessness services and housing provision.
“It is really important to understand people’s first hand experiences and use this information to help inform and improve our services.”
All photos: One25
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