The annual rough sleeping statistics show that rough sleeping rates have fallen for a fourth year in a row with a 9% reduction in rough sleeping compared to last year.

Numbers have fallen in every region of England, taking levels to an eight-year low overall.

The number of people in emergency accommodation has also nearly halved, with more people securing long-term homes.

It also found that:

  • 2,440 people were recorded as sleeping rough on any given night in England. This figure is a 9% reduction compared to the figure for 2020 and a 43% fall when compared to 2019.
  • However, the number of people sleeping rough on any given night is still 38% higher than recorded in 2010.
  • The number of people estimated to be in emergency & short-term accommodation in November is down 5,490 people or 56% from the same period last year.
  • Rough sleeping decreased in every region of England compared to the previous year. The largest decrease in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough was in London, with an estimated decrease of 70 people.
  • But, nearly half (45 %) of all people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn are in London and the South East.

While some individual local authorities have recorded increases, others have seen significant reductions including a 23% fall in the number of people seen sleeping rough in Westminster (from 242 to 187) and of 36% in Manchester from (68 to 43).

Of the people experiencing street homelessness:

  • 85% were male (same as 2020)
  • 86% were aged over 26 (down from 87% in 2020)
  • 67% were from the UK (a fall from 72% last year), and
  • 9% were aged between 18-25 (an increase of 2% on the previous year)

Rough Sleeping and Housing Minister, Eddie Hughes, said: “The government remains focused on ending rough sleeping by the end of this parliament and we’re making excellent progress towards this.

“Today’s figures are testament to that, showing our investment is helping more people have a roof over their heads and the best possible chance of turning their lives around.”

Rick Henderson, CEO at Homeless Link, said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to live and the support they need to maintain it. So, after nearly a decade of continual rises, a fourth year on year decrease in the number of people sleeping rough on any given night is something to celebrate.

“The hard work of homeless services on the front-line, in partnership with government and local authorities, has shown us that rough sleeping is not inevitable, that we can dream of one day living in a society where it has all but been eradicated.

“But 2,400 people are still sleeping rough on any given night, with this figure 38% higher than the total in 2010. These are real lives, stories of people let down by a system that should protect them.

“It could be someone who lost their job during the pandemic or a young person who’s recently left the care system, terrified and alone. It could be a woman fleeing an abusive partner or someone evicted from a private tenancy through no fault of their own.

“With the Government’s target of ending rough sleeping by 2024 fast approaching, it will be critical to redouble our efforts over the next two years.

“With the much-reported cost of living crisis starting to take effect, private sector evictions rising again and some of those housed during the pandemic returning to the streets, a tough year lies ahead.”

Lord Kerslake said: “It is very positive to see the number of people sleeping on our streets continuing to fall. This is a direct result of the continuing effect of the emergency response to the pandemic, and the wider changes that it has brought about.

“We continue to see what can be achieved when the ambition to end rough sleeping is backed by the appropriate resourcing.

“Many of the recommendations made by the Kerslake Commission are already being implemented by the Government, including longer term funding settlements and allowing local authorities more power in allocating resources, but the job is not done.”

St Mungo’s Chief Executive Steve Douglas CBE, said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen unprecedented levels of collaboration to support people off the streets and on the route to recovery.

“The ‘Everyone In’ initiative proved what could be achieved with the right funding, different organisations and government departments working together, and genuine collaboration between local and national government, and between public health and the homelessness sector.

“DLUHC, under the leadership of Michael Gove, has a real opportunity to take forward the positive things we have learned from the last two years, and build on them quickly to further our shared aim of ending street homelessness.”