[Skip to Content]
Shining a Light on Women’s Homelessness in Leeds

Shining a Light on Women’s Homelessness in Leeds

Shining a Light on Women’s Homelessness in Leeds

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

At our latest Leeds Frontline Network event, we came together to reflect on the 2024 Women’s Rough Sleeping Census—and what it tells us about the unique challenges women face when experiencing homelessness in Leeds in preparation for this year’s census in September.

One clear message emerged: homelessness systems are still designed around men’s experiences. Women often sleep in unsafe, hidden places—like A&E, buses, or walking all night—making them invisible in traditional rough sleeping counts. This has serious consequences, especially when national data influences local funding.

As one attendee said: “Women are adept at safety planning and managing their own safety in ways men do not have to consider in this way.”

We discussed the need for trauma-informed approaches and how out-of-hours engagement is often when women are most reachable yet rarely funded appropriately. There’s also a growing need to better involve and reach out to LGBTQ+, especially those supporting trans women and racially minoritised organisations,

Attendees shared practical ideas to improve the census this year:

  • Add more narrative and qualitative questions (while still keeping it brief and trauma informed)
  • Include training and trauma-informed support for those doing the outreach.
  • Create a WhatsApp group for coordination pre, during and post week
  • Ensure health needs are specified (physical, mental, and sexual health)

The census doesn’t just collect data—it brings services together, challenges assumptions and helps us build support systems that reflect real women’s lives.

If you are a frontline worker and would like to get involved in the 2025 Women’s Rough Sleeping Census or access the regular Frontline Worker network meetings in Leeds, sign up for the mailing list to receive updates and be notified about future events.

News and Views

  • Brain Injury Guidance

    Brain Injury Guidance

    Leigh Andrews of Change Communication offered specialist advice on brain injuries and homelessness through a digital...
  • End Furniture Poverty Survey

    End Furniture Poverty Survey

    End Furniture Poverty have recently spoken with the Frontline Network to discuss their important ongoing survey, seek...
  • Cover the Cost Campaign

    Cover the Cost Campaign

    Jasmine Basran, Senior Policy Officer at Crisis, talks to us about the Cover the Cost Campaign, asking the Government...
  • VRF Impact Report 2018/19

    VRF Impact Report 2018/19

    Over the past year we have given out 3827 grants totaling £1,156,805 through the VRF. Read the latest Impact Report t...
  • Influence from the Frontline

    Influence from the Frontline

    Frontline workers are crucial at giving insight into the viewpoints of the people they work with as well as the chall...
  • The Vagrancy Act

    The Vagrancy Act

    Crisis, along with others including Homeless Link, Cymorth Cymru, Centrepoint, St Mungo’s, Shelter Cymru and the Wall...
  • Influencing local decisions

    Influencing local decisions

    Zoe, Frontline Network Coordinator at Coventry Citizens Advice, talks to us about the Coventry Frontline Network and...
  • The Litigant in Person Network

    The Litigant in Person Network

    Martha de la Roche, Network Development Manager at Litigant in Person Network (LiP Network), tells us about The LiP N...
  • VRF Impact Report

    VRF Impact Report

    Find out what impact VRF had last year and how to get involved in shaping its direction in the coming year.
  • Housing First Scotland

    Housing First Scotland

    Please see here for the first issue of Housing First Connect - a twice-yearly newsletter for Scotland’s new Housing F...
  • Slaying the Dragon

    Slaying the Dragon

    Will Golding, Edinburgh Tutor at Crisis, talks to us about 'Slaying the Dragon'.
  • CPAG - Early Warning System

    CPAG - Early Warning System

    Dan Norris, from CPAG, talks to us about a new Early Warning System to record the impact of benefit changes implement...
  • The Hostile Environment

    The Hostile Environment

    Bethan Lant, a Project lead from Praxis, writes about the creation of a hostile environment for migrants and refugees.
  • Wrexham’s Crisis Cafe

    Wrexham’s Crisis Cafe

    Sinead Kelleher writes about Wrexham's Crisis Cafe, a multi-agency response to Universal Credit.
  • Frontline Worker Survey

    Frontline Worker Survey

    We are asking frontline workers to participate in a survey, aimed at those working with clients who are experiencing...
  • A map through conflict

    A map through conflict

    A Cyrenians Mediator writes about their innovative Amber Mediation and Support Project, a model of mediation and supp...
  •  “A place to call home"

    “A place to call home"

    Hannah Gousy was seconded from Crisis to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) to help design policy recommendations to...
  • A London Nightshelter

    A London Nightshelter

    On 7 November we opened our church-based shelters for the winter with more churches signed on then ever before. Glass...
  • 'Step Up' at The Connection

    'Step Up' at The Connection

    Wyn Newman introduces the volunteer programme 'Step Up' that has been developed at The Connection for service users.