Health: Census to map women’s rough sleeping as mixed-sex hostels deemed unsafe

A government-ordered census focused on women’s rough sleeping is set to run from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28, with Newcastle joining for the first time. Officials say the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census aims to produce a clearer picture of how many women sleep rough or use hostels, and to direct targeted support to address health and safety needs. Shelter North East says the number of female rough sleepers in the region has risen by about 425% over five years, though many women remain hidden from official counts by avoiding street sleeping or reliance on hostels. The findings, due to be released in October, are expected to inform how local authorities and the government allocate resources and design services that address trauma, violence, and health risks associated with rough sleeping.

Jay, a woman who spent months trying to find safe women-only accommodation, describes a mixed-sex hostel she stayed in Sunderland as “ruthless,” noting it was “full of alcoholics, drug users.” She said that during the first week three men were taken out in body bags, and she was terrified, fighting to survive every day. She added that the hostel did not carry out full background checks on residents, warning that “you could be in there with a nasty person. That's a risk women think of before they pick up that phone.” Domestic abuse victims have a particular need for female-only accommodation, she said.

Leanne, who also faced trauma, said she spent months sofa-surfing because she was “too scared” to live in a mixed-sex hostel after her experiences. “People called us the bag lady because I used to carry all my bags everywhere,” she recalled, underscoring the stigma and practical challenges women face when seeking safe shelter. The BBC report notes that many homeless women do not bed down on the street, and some avoid hostels altogether to evade violence or coercive control. Tracy Guy, speaking for Shelter North East, said that many women fall under the radar, sleeping in cars, in accident and emergency units, or fast-food outlets, or staying with perpetrators of abuse because an unsafe situation feels safer than sleeping outdoors.

Jay has since moved to a female-only house run by Emmaus North East. Ruth Parker, chief executive of Emmaus North East, said most of the women they support have suffered trauma, domestic abuse and sexual violence. “Putting a person who has faced that on to the street, where they are vulnerable to those things again, we have to try and eradicate,” Parker said. Emmaus plans to open a new women-only premises in 2026, but Parker stressed that more female-specific supported accommodation must be a high priority.

The BBC contacted all local authorities in the North East about their current homeless provisions. Most report beds in mixed-sex hostels, but some councils have no female-only provision at all. The census, carried out between Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, aims to quantify the scale and distribution of women’s rough sleeping; Newcastle City Council joined the census for the first time. Councillor Paula Maines, cabinet member for housing, said the data could help ensure the right services for women and also enable authorities to press government for additional funding.

The census findings are scheduled for release in October. Charities said they hope the results will reveal more accurate numbers and spark greater support for women like Jay and Leanne. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The Women's Census helps us understand the challenges women face when getting the right support. We're spending £1 billion on vital services so that women who are sleeping rough can get safe and appropriate help. This is a first step to get us back on track towards ending homelessness once and for all.”