The fourth national Women’s Rough Sleeping Census is underway across Gloucestershire, continuing important work to better understand women’s experiences of rough sleeping and homelessness.
Women remain significantly under-represented in traditional rough sleeping statistics and support provision, meaning their experiences, needs and routes into homelessness can often go unseen.
Findings from the national 2025 census report identified 162 women sleeping rough in the same areas that official government snapshot counts recorded zero women sleeping rough. Nearly two thirds of women surveyed said they had slept in places excluded from official homelessness counts or staying awake through the night to avoid violence, exploitation and sexual assault.
The census provides an important opportunity to listen to women and build a more accurate picture of the challenges they face, including barriers to accessing support services and safe accommodation.
For 2026, the census includes a new question exploring the role of pets in women's experiences of homelessness, particularly in relation to domestic abuse. The information collected will help build a clearer understanding of how companion animals affect access to housing and support, particularly where a lack of pet-inclusive accommodation creates barriers to finding safe, stable housing.
Gloucestershire is proud to be one of the leading areas outside London delivering the Women's Rough Sleeping Census, helping to ensure that local and national responses are informed by the realities of women's lives.
Working on behalf of the county, the Gloucestershire Housing Partnership team plays a key role in coordinating and delivering the census alongside Gloucester City Council and a range of local partners. The work contributes to a growing evidence base that is helping to shape more effective policies, services and support for women experiencing rough sleeping.
Insights gathered through previous censuses have already contributed to a national dataset of more than 3,000 responses from women across England. The findings have increased understanding of the hidden nature of women's rough sleeping and highlighted the importance of designing services that better meet women's needs.
The census is carried out by the Gloucestershire Housing Partnership, of which Gloucester City Council is the lead and host authority. The Partnership brings together the seven local councils with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Integrated Care Board to “ensure that everyone living in Gloucestershire has a home that meets their needs and enables them to live healthy, happy and successful lives”.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement at Gloucester City Council, said:
Women's experiences of rough sleeping are often hidden from view and can be very different from those reflected in traditional homelessness data. By taking part in this census, women are helping us build a clearer understanding of the barriers they face and the support that can make a difference.
Every response strengthens the evidence base that is driving improvements in policy and practice both locally and nationally. We are proud to be playing a leading role in this important work and helping to ensure support systems better reflect the realities women face.
The census will be delivered through trusted local services and organisations working directly with women across Gloucestershire. The information gathered will help partners identify gaps in support, improve service provision and influence future approaches to preventing and responding to homelessness among women.
As the fourth census begins, partners are encouraging eligible women to take part and share their experiences, helping to create a stronger understanding of rough sleeping and homelessness and supporting meaningful change for women across Gloucestershire and beyond.
