Path highlights domestic abuse as a key driver of women’s homelessness in Plymouth.

Plymouth’s First Women’s Census

Plymouth’s First Women’s Rough Sleeping Census reveals the complex realities of women’s homelessness, including those fleeing abuse.

Path highlights the often hidden link between domestic abuse and women’s homelessness in Plymouth. We are urging local services and the public to recognise that leaving an abusive relationship too often means entering into a housing crisis – and that for many women, homelessness is not just a result of poverty but a consequence of violence.

In July, Path co-ordinated Plymouth’s Women’s Rough Sleeping Census as part of Solace’s national research initiative to capture the lived experiences of women facing housing insecurity and homelessness.1 This marked the city’s first participation in the census, alongside more than 80 local authorities across England, gathering vital insights into women’s experiences of rough sleeping and hidden homelessness.

The findings revealed the complex realities of women’s homelessness, including those fleeing abuse.

Between July and September, Path and partner organisations in the city including, Trevi, Shekinah, The Soup Run, BCHA - George House and Hospital Discharge Team, PCC Outreach team, the Job Centre and the Zone, identified 85 women sleeping rough in Plymouth—more than double the number previously counted.

19 women completed the census survey, with one saying, “It is now more dangerous than ever to be homeless in Plymouth” and another citing the need for more support around mental health and accommodation services.

These findings are particularly relevant as we enter the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, and brings together organisations, communities and individuals to call for an end to violence against women and girls.  

Plymouth City Council reports that the city experiences a high prevalence of domestic abuse, with the number of reported incidents continuing to rise over the past five years. Domestic abuse now accounts for around 27% of all violent crime in Plymouth, compared with a national average of 16%. In 2020/21 alone, there were 6,933 domestic abuse crimes and incidents reported to the police -an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year. 2

The census data also confirms what national research repeatedly shows: domestic abuse is a major trigger for women’s homelessness, and women’s homelessness is often hidden and under-counted.

National research in the UK illustrates the scale and severity of this issue. Homeless Link reports that “domestic abuse is a primary trigger of homelessness amongst women and continues to impact the experiences of women while homeless.”3 40 % of homeless women identify domestic abuse as a contributing factor to their homelessness. Moreover, research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) based on interviews with women survivors in England highlighted the lack of suitable accommodation, complex processes, and the importance of both physical and emotional safety in post-abuse housing pathways.4

Many women escaping domestic abuse face a stark choice between staying in an unsafe home with an abuser or leaving and risking homelessness or unstable housing. Plymouth’s local census adds Plymouth-specific insight to this broader context and helps shine a light on how that national challenge is playing out in our city.

Path urges recognition across the housing, homelessness and domestic abuse sectors that domestic abuse is a core cause of women’s homelessness, not just an associated factor and that safe, affordable housing pathways should be made available to women escaping violence — not simply crisis provision, but options for stability and independence.

Victoria Allen, Path CEO, says,

“We are working with services across the city to adopt trauma‑informed and gender‑responsive approaches that recognise hidden forms of homelessness — such as sofa‑surfing or insecure stays. These experiences rarely appear in official figures, yet they carry serious risks for women’s safety and wellbeing.”

Path works in collaboration with city-based specialist organisations to provide coordinated, person-centred support, ensuring people are not left to navigate services alone and that their full range of needs is recognised. Drawing on insights from the recent census, Path and its partners are planning further developments to strengthen local support and improve accessibility.

As we start to feel winter approaching, Path has also launched its Winter Appeal to help ensure no one in our city has to face the cold alone.

For more information, please visit Winter Appeal — Path | Hope Begins with a Home

1.          https://www.solacewomensaid.org/womens-rough-sleeping-census/
2.        Plymouth-Report-Oct-2023
3.        Refuge
4.        Office for National Statistics Jan – June 2023 (Reported Jan 2025)