Latest data on Rough sleeping in London
November 24
Rough sleeping in London has reached record levels, with the most recent CHAIN data showing that 4,780 people slept rough between July and September 2024, marking an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among these, 2,343 were new to rough sleeping, an alarming trend that has prompted urgent responses from local government and homelessness organizations. The increase reflects broader pressures on housing and social services in London .
In response, Mayor of London held an emergency summit at the end of October with key stakeholders, including the Minister for Homelessness, to discuss long-term solutions. One major initiative from this summit, the “Homes off the Streets” program, will invest 4.8 million to help people previously experiencing rough sleeping find and sustain housing, supporting 3,500 long-term accommodations across the city. This initiative focuses on providing wraparound support, including financial and social services, to prevent people from returning to the streets. Khan also reaffirmed his goal to end rough sleeping by 2030, though he noted that the situation could worsen before substantial improvements are seen .
This crisis has been attributed in part to years of underinvestment in affordable housing, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts across governmental levels to address both short-term relief and long-term systemic change..
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