Headline Statistics
New data was released today (30 April 2024) by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) which covers January to March 2024. In total, 4,118 people were recorded as rough sleeping in London between January to March 2024, this is an increase of 33% on the same period last year.
2,038 people rough sleeping for the first time, a 37% increase on the same figure this time last year.
511 people deemed to be living on the streets, 36% higher than the same figure this time last year.
1,637 people were intermittently rough sleeping, 29% higher than the same period last year.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) also published data today for October – December 2023, which shows an increase in statutory homelessness.
78,980 households were homeless or at risk of homelessness, an increase of 8.8% from the same period last year.
The figures also demonstrate an increasingly unstable private rented sector, with 44.4% of the households at risk of homelessness renting privately – an increase of 7.2% from last year.
Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, Emma Haddad, said:
“It is truly devastating to see yet another rise in homelessness across London and a 37% increase in those sleeping rough for the first time. Every day our outreach teams are trying to support more people off the streets, but the huge shortage of affordable and appropriate housing makes this really challenging.
With the Mayoral and London Assembly Elections this week, and a general election to come, we urge those elected to make ending homelessness a priority. Homelessness devastates lives, and our collective focus must be on preventing it at all costs.”
