Behind every statistic on women’s homelessness is a story of strength, struggle, and survival. By understanding the numbers, we can uncover the unique challenges women face – and fight harder to make sure every woman gets the support she needs. Because no woman should be without a safe place to call home. Ever.
74% of women experiencing homelessness have a physical health issue.
Homelessness robs you of safety and your health. Existing health conditions worsen, new ones emerge, and healthcare can feel completely out of reach. Poverty, transport barriers, and the fear of being judged all stand in the way.
But the damage often starts long before someone ends up on the streets. Living in unsafe or unsuitable housing, or under the constant threat of losing your home, takes a heavy toll. Minor health issues turn into major ones as women put survival before health – making sure there’s a roof over their own heads and their children’s. And when health begins to break down, so does the path out of homelessness. It’s almost impossible to fix your housing situation when your body is struggling to get through the day.
65% of Londoners in temporary accommodation are women.
Despite making up just over half the population, women account for 60% of homeless adults living in temporary accommodation in England. In London, the situation is even starker – 65% of homeless adults in temporary accommodation are women. And this isn’t a blip. The number of women forced into temporary accommodation has almost doubled in the last decade.
These figures shine a light on a hidden reality of women’s homelessness. Often out of sight – behind closed doors, in hostels, B&Bs, or poor-quality private rentals provided by councils – women are struggling every day without the support they need. Many are escaping abuse, juggling childcare and family responsibilities, and fighting through a system with too few exits. As the crisis deepens, more and more women are being caught in this cycle, with no clear path to safety or stability.
64% of women experiencing homelessness also face mental health issues.
Homelessness is rarely just about housing – it’s rooted in deeper struggles. Many of the women we support have lived through the unthinkable: abuse, violence, and devastating losses, like having a child taken away. These experiences leave deep, lasting scars on mental health.
Some women were already battling mental health problems long before homelessness. For others, the trauma, instability, and isolation of losing a home trigger new and often severe mental health problems.
Either way, the impact is profound – and the need for understanding, trauma-informed support, and a safe place to heal is urgent. Without these, mental health can spiral fast. No woman should be left isolated, exposed, and forced to carry the weight of homelessness and trauma alone.
Homeless women are 3x more likely to have a mental health problem vs. the general population 43: The average age of death for women experiencing homelessness.
The average age of death for a woman experiencing homelessness in the UK is just 43 – almost half that of the general population, where women live to around 83.
This number speaks to the harsh reality of life without a safe and stable home: sleeping rough and exposed to the elements, little or no access to healthcare, and the constant, exhausting stress of wondering, Where will I sleep tonight? Will I be safe? Will I survive?—whether living in temporary accommodation or facing eviction.
Forty-three should be an age of growth and opportunity – not the end of a life cut far too short.
I wouldn’t wish rough sleeping on anyone. Living and sleeping outside is cold and hard. When I see people who are homeless now, I feel for them. I’ve been there.
One in 38 lone mothers in England are homeless.
Lone mothers are among the hardest hit by the housing crisis. In England, one in every 38 faces homelessness. Nearly a third are already behind on rent or just one step away from losing their homes.
Yet many stay silent, afraid that asking for help could mean losing their children. This fear forces mothers into an impossible choice – trying to protect their families while battling homelessness alone.
15% of recorded rough sleepers are women, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg…
Official statistics show that 15% of people sleeping rough nationwide are women – rising slightly to 17.5% in London. But these numbers are dangerously misleading. They don’t reflect the reality for women who are sleeping rough.
Women often hide on the streets or stay out of sight to keep safe, avoiding violence and exploitation. But by doing so, they also remain hidden from outreach teams and official counts. The result? Traditional recording methods dramatically underestimate the true scale of women’s rough sleeping.
We know this because we’ve seen it first-hand. For the past three years, we’ve led the London Women’s Rough Sleeping Census – the first of its kind – alongside a coalition of women’s services, homelessness organisations, and local authorities. Our 2024 findings were stark: up to ten times more women could be sleeping on England’s streets than the Government’s data suggests.
By shining a light on the full extent of the crisis, we can make sure every woman gets the support she needs – and deserves.
We’re leading the charge to end women’s homelessness. Our work tackles the unique challenges women face, helping them rebuild their lives while pushing for policy change so no woman is left without support.
Each year, more local authorities join us to take part in the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census. This vital work is revealing the true scale of women’s homelessness – showing where and when women are sleeping rough, and what support they need to leave homelessness behind for good.
We’re also expanding our five women-only services, creating safe spaces and tailored support that give women dignity, safety, and a clear way forward.
No woman should have to hide. Every woman deserves to be seen, heard, and protected from harm.
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