Last week new figures were released from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), revealing that 3,637 people slept rough across London from October to December 2019. This is an 11% increase from the same period last year.
Charity Crisis has stated that it is concerning that the figures show 1,729 people were new rough sleepers, which is also a rise of 11%.
These figures are the most comprehensive data available about the number of people rough sleeping in the capital.
Responding to the figures Jon Sparkes, Crisis Chief Executive, said: “Everyone should have the right to a home, so it’s simply disgraceful that yet again we are faced with the reality that more and more people are being forced to sleep rough on the capital’s streets.
“No one should have to suffer appalling weather conditions or be exposed to violence and abuse because they cannot afford to keep a roof over their head. It would be dehumanising for any of us to live like this.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way, as a society we have the power to change this. By putting the right support in place – such as building the social homes we desperately need and making sure housing benefit covers the true cost of rent – we can stop people from losing their homes in the first place. We can’t avoid the evidence anymore, the time for action is now.”