London experiences a 29% escalation in homelessness, with more individuals sleeping on the streets.
In the heart of the city, the number of individuals sleeping rough on the streets continues to climb, despite efforts to eradicate homelessness by 2030. According to recent data, 4,392 people were recorded as homeless in London between April and June 2025, marking a 4% increase from the previous year and a 26% rise in long-term rough sleepers [1][2][3][4].
The surge in homelessness can be attributed to a combination of factors. Rising first-time rough sleepers, insufficient affordable housing, complex support needs, economic pressures, and a time lag before planned interventions take effect are all contributing to this troubling trend [1][2][3][4].
John Glenton, the executive director for care and support at a prominent landlord, finds the increasing numbers extremely worrying. He believes that investing in social housing, recruiting more outreach workers, and a national housing and homelessness strategy are essential resources to help people move into long-term housing when they are ready [1][2][3].
Emma Haddad, the chief executive of St Mungo's, a leading homelessness charity, shares Glenton's concerns. She attributes the increase to rising rents, unaffordable bills, and the unexpected loss of employment [2][3].
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has pledged to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030, with the commitment made on the condition of working in partnership with a Labour government [5][6]. Glenton emphasizes the importance of this partnership to achieve Khan's pledge [7].
Experts advocate for a more ambitious, collaborative national strategy focusing on prevention to reduce new homelessness cases and rapid, effective support to ensure homelessness is brief and non-recurring [1]. St Mungo's looks forward to seeing a minister appointed with responsibility for preventing homelessness to support the new government in ending homelessness [8].
The National Audit Office has called on the government to adopt a 'genuinely' cross-departmental approach to addressing homelessness [9]. The CHAIN database, commissioned and funded by charity Homeless Link and the Mayor of London, shows this is a record high for a year unaffected by Covid-19, with 4,223 people sleeping rough in London between April and June 2022 [10].
Despite policy efforts and funding, the rise in rough sleeping reflects ongoing housing shortages, economic hardship, complex support needs, and a time lag before planned interventions take effect [1][2][3][4]. It is clear that a collaborative, comprehensive approach is needed to address this pressing issue and ensure that everyone in London has a safe, secure place to call home.
References:
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- City Hall
- Homeless Link
- London.gov.uk
- Labour.org.uk
- City A.M.
- St Mungo's
- National Audit Office
- Homeless Link
- In light of the growing issue of homelessness, there’s a pressing need for collaborative efforts, including investing in social housing, recruiting more outreach workers, and implementing a national housing and homelessness strategy to facilitate the transition of individuals into long-term housing.
- The surge in homelessness signifies not only housing shortages and economic hardship, but also the importance of addressing mental health, workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and other complex support needs to ensure brief and non-recurring homelessness instances.
- To achieve Sadiq Khan's pledge to end rough sleeping in London by 2030, a comprehensive approach is essential, focusing on preventive strategies, advocating for a 'genuinely' cross-departmental approach, and ultimately providing a holistic solution encompassing mental health, job stability, and access to affordable housing for everyone in London.
