This year the Rahab team are very pleased to be joining the Womens rough sleeping census, organised in Reading by RBC. We have for a while realised that many of the women we support, whilst homelss or in insecure accomodation are not rough sleeping in the traditional way. Some sex work all night and sleep in the day, others exchange sex for a bed, other just wander from place to place or sleep in unsafe places.
Many women feel it its too dangerous to bed down in one place.
Solace have been running this census since 2021 with a growing number of localities joining each year.
Solace have been running this census since 2021 with a growing number of localities joining each year.
Here are some of their findings:
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Women’s rough sleeping is hidden, transient and intermittent – 54% in the 2024 census reported sleeping in places not within the existing definition.
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Services aren’t reaching women – 77% not in touch with housing officer or council housing department, 43% not in touch with homelessness service.
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Accommodation isn’t preventing homelessness for women – 37% were in homelessness accommodation prior to rough sleeping.
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There are up to 10x as many women rough sleeping as are captured by the traditional rough sleeping count
By working together with many agencies in Reading to carry out this survey we are hoping that together we can gain a better picture of the real situation from women who are homeless and be part of the solution.
Your support helps us reach these vulnerable women. Please consider donating to Rahab to help us continue this life-changing work.