Today, new figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information
Network have shown that 2,086 people were found to be sleeping on
London’s streets for the first time between July and September.
This is a 13% increase in new people seen sleeping rough in the
same quarter last year, and a 29% increase from April to June
this year.
In total, 4,068 people were sleeping rough across the capital
between July and September this year. This is a 12% increase on
the same quarter last year, and a 24% increase from April to June
this year.
The figures also highlighted that, of the total number of people
forced to sleep rough in London:
- Almost half (49%) had mental health needs
- Over 550 (14%) were aged 55 or above
The statistics also show that the progress made to tackle rough
sleeping during the pandemic has now been lost. The figures are
36% higher than when the Everyone In scheme, which provided
people rough sleeping with emergency accommodation during the
pandemic, was in place.1
The figures show the stark reality that many households are
struggling in the face of the continued cost of living crisis,
rising rents and the chronic shortage of genuinely affordable
housing. Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Statement, Crisis is
calling for the Westminster Government to take immediate action
by unfreezing housing benefit - which remains at 2018-19 rent
levels - meaning people are often left to make up huge shortfalls
to cover their rent or are unable to find a home they can
afford at all.
Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, said:
“Rough sleeping is gruelling and dangerous. Yet, today’s figures
show that a devastating lack of support combined with crippling
rents and high living costs is continuing to push thousands onto
the capital’s streets.
“Make no mistake, the Westminster Government’s target of ending
rough sleeping by next year is now completely out of reach. But
we must not give up and just accept more and more people forced
to sleep on our streets. We need a different approach from the
Government to ensure more people aren’t forced to bed down in a
cold doorway this winter. To do this the Chancellor must invest
in housing benefit at the upcoming Autumn Statement so that
people can afford even the cheapest of rents, and we need
investment in services for people with support needs like mental
health. Unless this happens, we will see more and more people
enduring a life of poor health, abuse and isolation from society
because they have nowhere else to go.”
The figures come as Crisis is once again preparing to open it’s
Christmas services to offer warmth, companionship, and vital
support to some of the most marginalised in society at one of the
toughest times of year. This year, in the capital, Crisis will be
providing hotel accommodation to over 590 people who would
otherwise be sleeping rough over the festive period, as well as
opening three-day centres for hundreds of people stuck living in
insecure accommodation - such as hostels and B&Bs.
To support Crisis this Christmas, donate at www.crisis.org.uk/donate
-Ends-
Notes to Editor
https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports
- Total number of people seen rough sleeping in London during
April-June 2021, was 2,589 after the Everyone In initiative had
been put in place. The latest CHAIN count – 4,068 – is 36% higher
than this quarter.
