New figures today from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) – the most comprehensive data available about the number of rough sleepers in London – reveals that from October to December 2020, 3,307 people slept rough across London, with 412 people trapped living on the streets for weeks at a time during this period – a 23% increase on the previous quarter. (1)

The figures also show:

• 1,582 people were new to rough sleeping during this period, a 17% drop from the last quarter and a 9% decrease from the same period last year
• Despite this 47 people who were new to rough sleeping during this period went straight to living on the streets for weeks at a time, a 47% increase on the previous quarter and a 31% increase on the same period last year
• 535 people were accommodated in COVID-19 emergency accommodation during this quarter, a 58% drop since the previous quarter

In response to these statistics, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“These statistics paint a worrying picture of homelessness across our capital as 2020 came to a close – with over 3,000 people sleeping on our streets and over 400 individuals spending week after week this way. Most concerningly, this was against the backdrop of rapidly rising coronavirus cases and temperatures dropping. In such circumstances, being forced to sleep on the streets is not just dangerous, it’s life threatening.

“Since these figures were recorded, and following the third national lockdown, the Westminster Government announced funding for councils to redouble efforts to get everyone in, rightly recognising that it was perilous for people to be on the streets. This will have provided a lifeline to many people sleeping rough across the capital.

“Despite this, we are still hearing reports of people falling through the cracks and being denied help – in many cases because of their immigration status. We urge government to be crystal clear that ‘everyone in’ must mean everyone, so that no one sleeping rough is denied vital support when the risk to life remains high.

“As the economic impact of the pandemic continues to take its toll, we are in real danger of seeing more people pushed into poverty and homelessness. As we look ahead, we must build back better by addressing the lack of genuinely affordable housing which deprives many people of the basic right to a secure home.”

-Ends-

Notes to Editor

(1) https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports (Quarter 3 Report - 2020/21)