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5mo ago

London Rough Sleeping and Child Homelessness Reach Alarming New Highs

New data reveals a 38% surge in long-term rough sleeping in London and record numbers of children in temporary housing across England, as councils warn of financial collapse.

Russ and Selma lived in their flat for 13 years, then they were issued with a section 21 notice, and were placed into a Travelodge by their local council for 10 months. Image: Centre for Homelessness Impact / Jeff Hubbard
There was an 8% annual rise in the number of people spotted sleeping rough in London between January and March 2025. Image: Orly Orlyson / Flickr
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Overview

  • London recorded 4,427 rough sleepers in the first quarter of 2025, an 8% year-on-year increase, with long-term street homelessness rising by 38% to 706 individuals.
  • Youth rough sleeping in London surged by 30%, with 477 young people aged 18–25 counted between January and March 2025, highlighting a growing crisis among vulnerable demographics.
  • England saw a record 327,950 households owed homelessness support in 2024, with 127,890 in temporary accommodation housing 165,510 children, a 13.6% rise from the previous year.
  • The number of households with children in B&Bs for over six months has soared to 1,510, more than eight times the figure recorded in March 2022, despite legal limits on such stays.
  • The Labour government has pledged £1 billion for homelessness services and plans to unveil a long-term strategy in the upcoming summer spending review, as charities call for 90,000 new social rent homes annually to address the crisis.