Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) show that the number of people “living on the streets” in London from April to June this year is up 26% from the same period of 2024. 

And it’s more than double compared to ten years ago.  

The data shows: 

• The number of people deemed to be ‘living on the streets’ is 788, up by 26% on the same period last year and up 102% compared to ten years ago. 
• A person is considered to be “living on the streets” if they have had multiple contacts with outreach teams over three weeks or more. 
• Overall 4392 people were recorded sleeping rough in London between April and June, up from 4% on the same time last year. This is up 58% compared to ten years ago.  
• The number of people sleeping rough for the first time in London between April and June has risen 4% compared to the same period last year and 33% from the number ten years ago. 
• The number women seen sleeping rough increased by 13% to 755 compared to same time last year. This made up 18% of all people seen sleeping rough between April and June. 

A statement from homelessness charity Crisis says several factors are driving people onto the streets and keeping them there including rising rents, real-terms cuts to housing benefit and significant gaps in support services. Underpinning these issues is a chronic shortage of social and affordable housing across Britain, which is pushing more people to the brink and into all forms of homelessness.   

The new data on rough sleeping follows government figures released last week showing more than 130,000 households in temporary accommodation in England at the end of March 2025. This includes almost 170,000 children – a record high. 

Crisis welcomes the recent commitment by the UK Government of £39 billion in funding for social and affordable homes and the announcement of £100m for homelessness prevention between 2026-27 and 2029-30. 

However, the charity stresses the need for these homes to be delivered as quickly as possible, for housing benefit to be restored to cover the cheapest third of rents, and for gaps in support services to be addressed. It emphasises the importance of addressing these issues in the forthcoming cross-government strategy on ending homelessness, due later this year, which will outline how departments will work together to tackle the issue.  

Rough sleeping remains the most dangerous form of homelessness, with research from Crisis showing that most people sleeping rough have experienced at least one form of violence, abuse or theft while on the streets.  

Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, says: “We have seen positive steps to tackle homelessness in the UK Government’s recent Spending Review, including vital funding for social and affordable housing. We were also pleased that the Mayor of London’s plan for tackling rough sleeping included housing as a solution. However, far too many people are still being forced to sleep rough across Britain.  

“It’s crucial that the forthcoming cross-government strategy for ending homelessness is joined up with plans for delivering social homes as quickly as possible, so that people can move into secure housing as a matter of urgency. Westminster must also reverse the cut to housing benefit, which is putting people at risk of losing their homes now, and fix gaps in support services so that people are not discharged from institutions including hospitals and prisons onto the streets.  

“Homelessness should not exist in our society. It can and must be prevented as a matter of national priority.”