Health: Mixed-sex hostels 'terrifying' for homeless women in North East, census to map scope

Homeless women in the North East say mixed-sex hostels are terrifying, prompting calls for more female-only accommodation as the first Women's Rough Sleeping Census seeks to map the scope of the problem.

One woman, identified as Jay, said a mixed-sex hostel in Sunderland was ruthless, full of alcoholics and drug users. She recalled that three lads were taken out in body bags during the first week she stayed there, and said the facility did not carry out full background checks, leaving women vulnerable to other residents. Leanne, another resident, said she spent months sofa-surfing because she was too scared to stay in a mixed-sex hostel after a traumatic experience.

Tracey Guy, from Shelter North East, said many homeless women tend not to bed down on the street. They sleep in cars, accident and emergency units, or fast-food outlets, or stay with perpetrators of abuse because an unsafe situation can feel safer than sleeping in a doorway. Jay now lives in a female-only house run by Emmaus North East. Chief executive Ruth Parker said most of the women they support have suffered trauma, domestic abuse, and sexual violence, and that putting someone who has faced that on to the street risks revictimisation.

Emmaus plans to open a new women-only premises in 2026, but Parker said more were needed. "Supported accommodation, specific to women, has to be high priority." The BBC asked all local authorities in the North East about their current homeless provision. Most have beds in mixed-sex hostels, but some councils have no female-only provision at all.

The Women's Rough Sleeping Census is being conducted between 22 and 28 September to better understand the scale of the issue. Newcastle City Council joined the census for the first time; Councillor Paula Maines, cabinet member for housing, said the data could help ensure that services meet women's needs and could pressure government to provide more funding. The findings are due to be released in October.

Ministers say the census helps understand the challenges women face when getting the right support. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the department is spending about £1 billion on vital services so that women who are sleeping rough can get safe and appropriate help, calling it a first step toward ending homelessness.

Charities said they hope the results reveal truer numbers and lead to more sustained support for women like Jay and Leanne.