Invisible Faces: Unveiling Women’s Homelessness

Before we get started

If you’d like to learn more about the various ways we help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, then join our newsletter for the latest updates.

How many women are experiencing homelessness in the UK?

Women in the UK face several unique challenges making them one of the groups most at risk of homelessness. However, their difficulties are not accurately represented when examining the percentage of females experiencing homelessness in comparison to males.

According to government figures on hidden homelessness, women only accounted for 13% of all people sleeping rough in England in 2021, but this doesn’t tell the full story.

For example, the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census, conducted by outreach teams across the UK, highlights how government figures aren’t always entirely reliable. In the 41 local areas that took part in the Census, 815 women were identified as sleeping rough—over 400% more than the 189 recorded in the Government’s 2023 Rough Sleeping Census. This huge disparity also only accounts for women sleeping rough and doesn’t touch on those experiencing other types of homelessness.

More women endure hidden homelessness, whereby they largely stay out of sight by sofa surfing or living in dilapidated, abandoned properties. For many, sofa surfing or living in unsuitable properties is deemed safer than not having a roof over their head.

Likewise, women are the most likely group to experience statutory homelessness, whereby their local authorities state they lack a secure place to live, often resulting in them being placed in temporary accommodation. Research gathered during a partnership project between The Connection at St Martin’s and Solace Women’s Aid found that women comprise 67% of statutory homeless people in London. While temporary accommodation is undoubtedly better than having no home at all, it still offers very little security with many women left not knowing when they might be asked to leave.

Experiences of women’s homelessness

While official statistics might not paint a clear picture, there’s undeniably a strong link between women and hidden homelessness. This is largely because the dangers posed by rooflessness (living visibly on the streets) don’t pose as great a risk to men as they do to women.

The exposure of living on the streets leaves women especially vulnerable to physical harm. According to homelessness charity, Crisis, nearly one in four women have been sexually assaulted when rough sleeping. This combined with other factors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, has caused the average life expectancy for women sleeping rough in England and Wales to fall to 41, as reported by the Guardian.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise women experiencing homelessness often turn to sofa surfing, or living in overcrowded, dilapidated buildings as a means of protecting themselves. Staying hidden is viewed as safer, even if the conditions are far from suitable.

However, experiencing hidden homelessness opens women up to additional risks. One of those is survival sex, whereby women have little to no choice but to engage in sexual relations as a form of payment in return for somewhere to stay. Women in this position are often controlled, exploited, and potentially put in danger of physical harm if they refuse to comply. Overall, their position could be considered unsafe or insecure as if they were sleeping rough.

Staying off the streets can shield women from danger. However, it also keeps them hidden from authorities and crucial support networks. If women experiencing hidden homelessness don’t want to be found, it’s very difficult to ensure they receive the support they need.

The Leeds Women’s Homelessness and Housing Frontline Network launched in 2021. It is facilitated by Basis Yorkshire in partnership with Together Women and Leeds Women’s Aid. This network brings together frontline workers providing intensive support to women in Leeds, with a particular focus on hidden homelessness. Supporting the network is one of the many ways you can help people experiencing homelessness. Your donations provide essential funding to ensure vulnerable people continue receiving the housing and health support they need to begin changing their lives for the better.

Causes of women’s homelessness

As mentioned, women suffer many of the same root causes of homelessness as other groups. However, they are likely to face additional challenges which can place them at greater risk of experiencing homelessness.

It’s essential we understand these unique causes to tackle the source of the problem. This is the only way to limit the number of women falling into homelessness and to ensure we provide the best possible support for those already experiencing it.

With that in mind, here are some of the main causes of women’s homelessness.

Domestic abuse

Abuse is both a consequence of homelessness amongst women and a leading cause. Domestic abuse against women can come in many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, or financial, all of which can force a woman to flee home out of fear for their safety.

According to our Frontline Network partner organisation, Leeds Women’s Aid, one in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their life.

Leaving an abusive partner by any means necessary is often deemed safer than staying with them, even if it means living in unsuitable properties or without a roof over their head.

Sadly, this is the reality for far too many women. Our analysis of the connection between women’s homelessness and domestic abuse highlights several worrying insights and statistics which point towards a deep-rooted issue all across the UK. For example:

• Basis Yorkshire, our local Network partner in Leeds, reported in February 2021 that, for women in their city, domestic abuse is one of the most frequent triggers for homelessness.
• Official figures provided by the Scottish Government state domestic abuse was the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland from 2020–2022.
• Our review on the Vicar’s Relief Fund (VRF) grants issued in the first quarter of 2024 shows that 14.4% were to support people away from domestic abuse.

The VRF provides people in vulnerable situations with emergency funding, designed to prevent them from falling into homelessness. A relatively small payment can often be all it takes for someone fleeing domestic abuse to arrange alternative temporary accommodation, giving them the time they need to make more permanent arrangements.

These grants are entirely reliant upon your generosity so please continue showing your incredible support.

Historical abuse and childhood experiences

Children deserve healthy, loving and happy childhoods. However, sadly, some girls experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse well before reaching adulthood.

Without sufficient mental health support, which has become increasingly difficult to access, people who suffer early domestic abuse may struggle to come to terms with their experiences.

Research by youth mental health charity, YoungMinds, found that only 8% of GPs agreed that there was good community support for children and young people with mental health problems in their area. This mental trauma young people endure as a result can lead to difficulties in several areas of day-to-day life, potentially contributing to higher rates of women’s homelessness.

A study on the connection between childhood abuse and women’s homelessness found women who had suffered abuse were much more likely to become homeless during childhood and it is suggested that this is an important precursor to homelessness for many women with chronic and severe mental illness.

Women who have experienced historical abuse may struggle to maintain healthy relationships. This is supported by child abuse charity, NSPCC, which states struggling with parenting or relationships is a long-term effect of non-recent abuse. Relationship difficulties can often lead to the need for complete financial independence. This can be particularly challenging due to the high cost of living, rent, and the lack of available council housing. In more extreme cases, they suffer abuse from a romantic partner similar to what they experienced in earlier life, further increasing their risk of homelessness.

As well as relationships, employment is another area which can be severely impacted by mental health issues caused by historical abuse. Trying to work with an ongoing mental health issue inevitably makes it more difficult to hold down a secure, long-term job, potentially resulting in financial strain which could eventually lead to homelessness.

Single parenthood

There are several factors on top of domestic abuse which could cause a relationship to break down, often resulting in one parent raising their children independently. When this occurs, it’s usually the mother who takes up the primary role as the single parent. Census figures from 2021 state that 85.9% of single parents in England and Wales were female, compared to 14.1% being male.

While it’s often the best outcome for the child(ren) to live with the mother, this doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges that come with it. Juggling childcare and employment can be extremely demanding for a single parent, often preventing them from being able to afford suitable housing and provide basic necessities like food and clothing.

Consequently, single mothers often have little option but to rely upon council-provided temporary housing, contributing to the high rates of statutory homelessness amongst women. Furthermore, high demand for council homes creates uncertainty for single-parent households about when they might be forced to leave, and whether they’ll be able to find somewhere else to live.