On 29/04/2023, the CHAIN homelessness database published its quarterly report detailing levels of rough sleeping in London between January and March 2023. CHAIN is the most accurate and detailed rough sleeping database in England.
Key findings are:
- There were 1,490 people recorded as sleeping rough for the first time in London, a 15% increase on the same period of the previous year.
- Overall, a total of 3,107 people were recorded as sleeping in rough in London, a 14% annual increase.
Responding to the statistics, Director of Social Change at Homeless Link Fiona Colley, said:
“Everyone deserves a safe and stable home and the support they need to keep it. However, once again, in London consistent pressures are forcing people to sleep rough, failed by systems that should protect them. This could be a young person who has recently left the care system, a woman fleeing an abusive partner or someone who simply couldn’t keep up with sharply rising rents in the capital.
“Rising costs have not just exacerbated long-term systemic causes of homelessness, such as a shortage of affordable housing and an unfit welfare system, the situation is also threatening homelessness services that are needed now more than ever. If the Government is to meet its goal of ending rough sleeping in this parliament, it must grant a funding uplift to ensure services do not have to make cut backs or close their doors altogether, leaving people without vital support.
“At the same time, bringing forward the full list of reforms outlined in the private renting White Paper will give London renters much needed protection and rights to help prevent more people from becoming homeless.”
