London councils have urged the government to address the ‘hidden’ number of women sleeping rough.
A recent report titled ‘Making Women Count’ found 154 women sleeping rough in the city in a week.
The census, supported by London Councils and the GLA, describes women’s homelessness as ‘transient, intermittent and hidden’.
These instances of rough sleepers are therefore often missing from official records, making it increasingly more difficult for women on the streets to access safe housing.
The report notes that the life expectancy of women sleeping rough is almost half (43) compared to women not subject to homelessness (89).
Unfortunately, this is due to violence and abuse being ‘near universal’ for women who sleep rough.
Local authorities have been pushed to deliver an annual Women’s Rough Sleeping Cesus on which they would be expected to report their findings.
It is also hoped that the government will produce guidance to help local authorities improve accessibility to support and services for vulnerable women.
Michelle Binfield, London Councils’ rough sleeping programme director, said: ‘Rough sleeping is particularly dangerous for women. The census is a vital tool for helping us understand the scale of the challenge and for targeting resources for successful prevention and front-line support work.’
Comments