Statement on London rough sleeping stats

According to the latest quarterly Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) report, outreach teams in London counted 4,392 people sleeping rough between April and June 2025. This represents a 4% increase compared to one year earlier, and a 34% increase compared to two years earlier.

Here is what Jo Carter, CEO of Glass Door Homeless Charity, said about these numbers:

“It’s been more than a year since the Mayor of London pledged to eliminate rough sleeping in London by 2030. What the latest figures show beyond all doubt is that we are nowhere near on track to meet this target, and things are going in completely the wrong direction.

The goal of eliminating rough sleeping is the right one, and it should be absolutely achievable. But we’ve got to face up to reality: nobody should have to sleep on the street, but more and more people are finding themselves with no other choice. Homelessness of all kinds is at record levels, and it will continue to get worse until the government starts treating the situation like the emergency it is.

There have been some promising signs both from the mayor and national government, but the only way that they will achieve a meaningful impact is through drastic action to tackle the affordability of housing.”