Today, the latest report from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), a multi-agency database, has been released.

Neil Parkinson, co-head of Casework, comments:

Between January and March 2022, 2714 individuals sleeping rough were recorded in London, a 10% decrease on the total figure for January-March 2021. While this decrease is encouraging, it is alarming to note that 48% of these individuals were sleeping rough for the first time. Moreover, 363 individuals were recorded to be living on the streets, a 15% increase from the same period last year.

With the cost of living soaring, we fear that more and more people could become homeless in the coming months without adapted support.

As we are approaching 2024 and the Government's deadline to end rough sleeping, it is urgent that the Government updates their Rough Sleeping Strategy and propose concrete plans to end rough sleeping for good and for all, because no one should have to sleep or live in the streets of London.

Read the full report: Rough sleeping in London (CHAIN reports) - London Datastore