Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) released today show that 3,959 people were recorded sleeping rough in London between April and June 2026. This is a decrease of 10% on the previous year but up 53% on the same period five years ago, when Covid ‘Everyone In’ measures saw rough sleeping numbers fall drastically in London. It is a rise of 47% compared to ten years ago. 

In addition, 680 people were deemed to be “living on the streets”, a rise of 72% on the same period five years ago and 75% on ten years ago.  

These new figures follow Prime Minister Andy Burham’s pledge to end rough sleeping in his first speech after taking office last week. 

Crisis welcomes this commitment to turn the tide on homelessness, which has skyrocketed across England in recent years. 

Conducted by outreach teams in regular contact with people on the streets, the new data from CHAIN shows that: 

• Overall, 3,959 people were recorded sleeping rough between April and June of this year. While this is down by 10% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, it is an increase of 53% compared to five years ago and up 47% over the past decade.  
• Of this number, 680 people were deemed to be “living on the streets”, having had a high number of contacts with outreach teams over three weeks or more. This is also down on the same time last year but up 72% on five years ago and 75% on ten years ago. 

• Of those who had previously slept rough and moved into accommodation between April-June 2026, the vast majority (80%) were moved into hubs, shelters and other forms of temporary accommodation, rather than settled housing (just 20%).  

• 704 women were seen sleeping rough. Women are undercounted in rough sleeping statistics as they are often hidden from public view due to safety reasons. 

Responding to the new figures released today, Crisis Chief Executive Matt Downie said:  

“Rough sleeping is a moral stain on our society, putting people at an increased risk of violence, abuse, and in the worst cases, even premature death.  

“We are pleased that the number of people recorded sleeping rough in London has gone down since last year. This shows the positive impact that regional action can have in bringing people off the streets and needs to be a turning point in how we tackle homelessness. To have a real lasting impact and ensure that no one is forced to sleep rough, this needs to be backed by concerted political action to tackle the housing crisis at a national level.  

“It has been immensely hopeful to see Andy Burnham commit to ending rough sleeping as his first instruction to government. Over the past decade, unaffordable private rents and a chronic shortage of social housing have caused homelessness to skyrocket across the country. Local councils are spending billions of pounds every year on temporary accommodation which keeps people locked in a cycle of instability. 

"The Prime Minister now has a unique opportunity to pave a new path for fixing this problem by taking an approach that prioritises giving people secure homes over temporary fixes. Crisis stands ready to help in the delivery of this. Making homes more affordable by restoring housing benefit so it reflects the actual cost of private renting will be crucial to the success of this plan. Through the right policies, we can see change.  Now is our chance to end rough sleeping.” 

 ENDS 

About CHAIN 

Today, Friday 31st July, the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) statistics have been published, showing levels of rough sleeping across London for the period April to June 2026. 

Conducted by outreach teams in regular contact with people on the streets, CHAIN is considered the most thorough approach to collecting data on people sleeping rough. 

In the CHAIN reports, people sleeping rough are grouped into three categories: 

New rough sleepers	Those who had not been contacted by outreach teams rough sleeping before the period
Living on the streets	Those who have had a high number of contacts over 3 weeks or more which suggests they are living on the streets
Intermittent rough sleepers	People who were seen rough sleeping before the period began at some point, and contacted in the period - but not regularly enough to be ‘living on the streets’.

Read and download the latest CHAIN figures here: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports 

Women sleeping rough  

Women experiencing street homelessness are often hidden from public view due to safety reasons and therefore excluded from official numbers.  

The Women’s Rough Sleeping Census was introduced by Solace, the Single Homeless Project, and Change Grow Live to paint a more accurate picture for this demographic. 

The dual methodology used in the census indicates 1.8 times as many women sleeping rough as CHAIN. 

The third annual Women’s Rough Sleeping Census was published on 3 July 2025. You can read it  here.   

About Crisis   

Crisis is the national charity for people facing homelessness across Wales, Scotland and England. We know that homelessness is not inevitable, and we know that together, we can end it. 

We provide services directly to people experiencing homelessness, carry out research into the causes and consequences of homelessness, and campaign for the changes needed to end it. 

You can contact the Crisis media team on 020 7426 3880, media@crisis.org.uk, or 07973 372587 (out of hours)