National Census Reveals Ten Times More Women Sleeping Rough Than Government Counts

Oxfordshire, 7th July, 2025

Local Charity, Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, alongside Oxford City and County Council joins national call for urgent reform as new report reveals systemic failure to count and support women sleeping rough.

The third Women’s Rough Sleeping Census (WRSC), published on 3 July 2025 by Solace, Single Homeless Project, Crisis, and Change Grow Live, surveyed 88 local authorities using improved methods that better capture women’s often hidden and complex experiences of homelessness.

The report shines a powerful spotlight on the hidden crisis of women sleeping rough — revealing that government data drastically undercounts the true scale of the problem, including here in Oxfordshire.

Key Oxfordshire findings:

The census identified 36 women sleeping rough,
Local community meetings identified 39 women,
Compared to just 14 women counted in official government data.

This significant gap highlights how current government counts miss many women, especially those sleeping in places not recognised in official statistics — like A&E departments, libraries, or public transport.

Why Are Women Missing from the Counts?

Women’s rough sleeping is often hidden and transient. Many experience violence or abuse and take great risks to stay safe, meaning they are less likely to sleep visibly rough where official counts focus.

The report How Do We Sleep at Night? recommends urgent government action, including:

A gender-informed definition of rough sleeping,
Better tools and funding for councils to collect accurate data,
Safe, women-centred homelessness services,
Joined-up government strategies,
Investment in prevention and early support.

Voices from Oxfordshire

Jane Cranston, Chair of Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, says:

“These findings shine a light on a reality we are working to address in Oxfordshire — that far more women are sleeping rough than the data shows. But they also offer a powerful opportunity to do better. That’s why we commissioned in-depth work from LEAF, our Lived Experience Advisory Forum, to listen directly to women with recent experience of rough sleeping across Oxfordshire. What they told us was clear and urgent: too many women are forced into unsafe accommodation, ignored when they raise concerns, or left choosing between danger and isolation. These are not just stories — they are evidence, and they are calls to action. With this report and the lived insight from LEAF, we now have both the data and the direction to create services that are safer, more responsive, and shaped by the voices of the women they serve. Together, we can and must act to ensure no woman is left unseen, unheard, or unsupported.”

What Can I Do To Help?

Support efforts to improve data, funding, and services for women experiencing homelessness. Stay informed, spread awareness, and consider donating or volunteering with Oxfordshire Homeless Movement and our partner organisations.