27 Feb 2020
The Government’s annual rough sleeping statistics for England, published today, found an estimated 614 women sleeping rough on any given night in Autumn 2019.
Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of Agenda, said:
“The numbers of women recorded as sleeping on the streets is likely to be a vast underestimate. Women who are homeless are far more likely to stay ‘hidden’, ether sleeping on sofas or buses or in survival sex work.”
On the independent review:
“We’re pleased to see the Government are planning this much needed review. If it’s going to work, it must look at the different experiences of women and men. Women who are homeless experience high rates of violence. Over a million women in England have experienced extensive abuse – a fifth of these women have been homeless. Once homeless, they are vulnerable to further abuse, for example entering into an unwanted sexual partnership to get a roof over their heads or engaging in sex work to raise money for accommodation. Their needs are distinct from men’s. Yet most homeless services aren’t set up to respond to them. Any review must recognise this vicious cycle of abuse and trauma and lack of appropriate support if we are ever going to end women’s homelessness.”