Hundreds of women sleeping rough, census finds

The number of female rough sleepers in Bristol is higher than previously thought, according to a new census

There are about 23 times more women sleeping rough in a city than government figures suggest, according to a new census.

Charities St Mungo's, The Nelson Trust, One25 and Shelter worked with Bristol City Council on the research that found there are about 349 women sleeping rough in Bristol - compared with just 15 recorded by government snapshot counts.

"The Bristol women's census reveals a stark reality: hundreds of women in our city are experiencing homelessness," said Jennifer Riley, CEO at One25.

Deputy city council leader, Heather Mack, said that the council would "use this information to help inform and improve services".

Ms Riley added: "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."

Andrew McCarthy, strategic lead for Shelter Bristol said: "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."

'Hidden from view'

Meanwhile, the national Women's Rough Sleeping Census found that there are about ten times more female rough sleepers across the country than the government accounts for.

It incorporated women sleeping in unsafe, hidden places, or staying mobile at night to avoid harm in its figures in an attempt to "capture the widespread impact of domestic abuse and violence".

"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," said Laura Shovlin, regional head at St Mungo's.