New figures today from the Combined Homelessness and Information
Network (CHAIN) – the most comprehensive data available about the
number of rough sleepers in London – reveals that 3,444 people
slept rough across London from July 2020 to September 2020,
including 1,901 who were rough sleeping for the first time, a 14%
decrease from the same period last year and a 19% decrease from
last quarter. (1)
The figures also show:
- New rough sleepers account for 55% of all rough sleepers
- During July – September 2020 there were 336 people recorded
who were deemed to be living on the streets – a 27% increase from
last quarter
In response, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis said:
“It’s welcome to see rough sleeping numbers in London finally
going in the right direction. These figures show that the initial
influx of people forced onto the streets at the start of the
pandemic has not escalated at the pace we feared. This is in
large part thanks to the government’s ‘Everyone In’ scheme, which
saw thousands of people sleeping rough housed in emergency
accommodation where they could safely self-isolate.
“However, the fact remains that 3,444 is a huge number of people
to be sleeping on the streets of our capital at any time, let
alone during a pandemic. That almost two thousand of them are
sleeping rough for the first time is alarming, with the risk of
infection adding to the other dangers associated with not having
somewhere safe to call home.
“As winter approaches, and with the second wave of the pandemic
affecting much of the country, we could see many more people
losing their homes as businesses and livelihoods are impacted.
“The Government must act now to fund accommodation where people
who would otherwise be sleeping rough can safely self-isolate, as
they did at the beginning of the pandemic. The measures they took
in March undoubtedly saved lives and must be repeated.
“Once housed in a safe space, we need to ensure people can access
appropriate services to help them move on from homelessness and
into settled housing. We must do everything we can to ensure the
pandemic does not leave a grim legacy of widespread
homelessness.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
(1) https://data.london.gov.uk/download/chain-reports/60627d37-0fe0-4cc3-9c20-e4a8ce3923d1/2020-21%20Quarterly%20Reports%20Q2.zip
