A unique art installation put together by St Mungo’s Outreach workers took place in Bournemouth over the weekend. The installation told the stories of hidden women facing homelessness.
The numbers of women sleeping on the streets are vastly under-estimated in official government statistics because women often end up sleeping in places hidden from view, such as parks or behind secluded buildings. All rough sleeping is dangerous for the people who experience it, but women face particularly high levels of sexual abuse and violence, which is why they are more likely to be ‘hidden homeless’.
To raise awareness of this important topic, women’s shoes, painted in St Mungo’s orange, have been placed around the Arts By The Sea festival. Each pair of shoes are attached to a QR code where you can listen to the stories of women we’ve supported and how they have survived through sofa surfing, living in unsafe situations, or avoiding public spaces.
Julie* (name changed to preserve anonymity), who arrived in Bournemouth after she fled stalking and intimidation, told us: “I didn’t know where to sleep. I figured maybe the hospital and emergency room was the best… I was really scared to sleep on the streets. And I’m very, very glad that with the help of St Mungo’s, that’s not the case anymore.”
The idea for the installation first came about from one of St Mungo’s very own Outreach workers.
“This installation is an opportunity to shine a light on experiences that are often overlooked. Every day our team meets people with remarkable strength and resilience who are navigating extremely difficult circumstances. Through this piece, we hope to encourage understanding, start meaningful conversations, and remind people that homelessness is a human issue that affects our whole community.” Lindsay Lyall, St Mungo’s Bournemouth Service Manager
This week, we have also been taking part in the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census by gathering vital data through a street count and directly supporting the women we find through these counts in Bournemouth. The Women’s Rough Sleeping Census is the only collection of data and insight that brings together local authorities and charities to build a clearer picture of women’s homelessness, ensuring that more women are seen, heard, and supported.
The previous census showed that there may have been 10 times as many women identified as rough sleeping in certain areas, in comparison to official government statistics from the Rough Sleeping Snapshot. There was also a 39% increase in the number of women identified as sleeping rough since the 2024 Census data was collected.
St Mungo’s is one of the largest providers of outreach services for people who are rough sleeping in England.
