An increasing number of people are sleeping rough on the streets of London with campaigners calling on the government to tackle the “root causes” of the problem. UK mortgage rates and rents have been soaring since decades-high inflation fuelled the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Figures released this week by the London Assembly recorded 3,272 people sleeping rough in London between April and June 2023. This marks a nine percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Just under half (49%) of the people sleeping rough in London in April-June 2023 were on the streets for the first time, according to the report. The UK government has set a target of ending rough sleeping in England by 2024. But Rick Henderson, chief executive at Homeless Link, said this target is “now looking completely out of reach”.
“The government must prioritise prevention, including raising the local housing allowance to include at least the lower third of rents, and finally enacting the Renters Reform Bill so renters have more security,” Henderson said. “We need the government to target the root causes rather than just simply alleviating the symptoms,” said Francesca Albanese, director of policy and social change at Crisis, a homelessness charity.
Rough sleepers in their makeshift beds outside closed shops on Oxford Street, at daybreak in London yesterday.
