New data released today (31听July 2023) by the听听shows the total number of people sleeping rough in听London between April and June 2023 was听3,272.
This听represents听a听9%听increase compared听with听the听2,998听people recorded听as听sleeping rough in the same period the previous year.听
The听latest听CHAIN听data revealed,听of those people sleeping听rough, that:听
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1,614听were听doing so for the first time,听12%听higher than the same period last year听
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411听people听were considered to be听living on the streets.听
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1,285听people were seen intermittently sleeping rough, which is听8%听higher than the same period last year.听
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Emma Haddad,听Chief Executive of听St听惭耻苍驳辞鈥檚, said:听
鈥�It is desperately sad听that the number of people sleeping rough in听London听continues听to rise.听The听ongoing听failure to address the severe housing听shortage听and听affordability crisis听is clear.听
鈥淎s rents听spiral,听more and more听London residents听are听falling into homelessness.听We know听that less than 2% of rental properties in the capital are affordable听for听people receiving听Housing Benefit.听Once again, we are calling听on the Government听to听urgently increase Housing听Benefit听so听that听it听properly reflects听the cost of听renting. Without immediate intervention,听homelessness听in London will听simply听worsen.听
鈥淪t 惭耻苍驳辞鈥檚 services across the city continue to work听tirelessly with the听increasing number of people听who need听our听support to听rebuild听their lives听away from the streets.鈥�听