Rotherham Council proposes women-only accommodation hub for rough sleepers

Rotherham Council has drawn up plans for a new accommodation hub that will house women who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The proposal will be put before the council's Cabinet on 12 October 2026 as part of discussions on the Homelessness, Rough Sleeper and Domestic Abuse Grant.

If approved, the hub is expected to open in October 2027 and will offer secure living spaces together with trauma-informed support services tailored to women’s needs. Its design follows the model used for the existing men’s hub, providing a stable environment and intensive assistance to help residents move on to independent living.

At present, women who are rough sleepers in Rotherham are usually accommodated in hotels or bed-and-breakfasts, where on-site support is minimal. Over the past two years, only 38.5% of single women achieved a positive move-on outcome, a stark contrast to the 70% success rate recorded for single men using the men’s hub.

Council officials will collaborate with the chosen service provider and women who have lived experience of homelessness to decide the most appropriate type, location and operating procedures for the new hub. This approach is intended to reflect the realities faced by women who often remain hidden in unsafe or concealed settings rather than sleeping on the street.

The hub forms part of a wider programme funded at £639,000 per year from the Homelessness, Rough Sleeper and Domestic Abuse Grant. The same programme also includes recommissioning the existing rough-sleeper hub and consolidating scattered schemes into a more flexible service that will deliver around 50 homes across the borough.

Cllr Linda Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing, said the council is committed to helping people live well and that ending rough sleeping remains a priority. She added that a women-only hub would fill a current gap in provision, offering a safe environment and specialised support to help women regain stability and progress towards independence.

The proposals support the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy, approved by Cabinet in May 2026, which outlines how the council will work with partners to prevent homelessness wherever possible. Further details of the plan can be accessed in the council's full report published online.