London’s boroughs have warned that the capital’s homelessness crisis is “spiralling out of control”, as new data suggests rough sleeping numbers have hit a record high.

Over 4,000 people were counted sleeping rough in London between July and September 2023, according to the latest CHAIN figures – a 12% increase on the same period in 2022 and London’s highest quarterly rough sleeping count since records began.

As the winter months approach, the capital’s boroughs are concerned about unsustainable pressures on local homelessness services.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “This spike in rough sleeping numbers is the latest evidence of London’s worsening homelessness crisis.

“After several years of solid progress in reducing rough sleeping, it is devastating to see rough sleeping skyrocket to a record high. Local support services are under immense pressure and the situation is spiralling out of control.

“Tackling rough sleeping requires a range of policy measures, as well as close partnerships between different agencies and long-term funding commitments for the frontline services keeping people off the streets. The government must work with councils and other key partners to address these matters urgently, otherwise this winter looks set to be extremely bleak.”

London Councils says a key factor driving the rise in rough sleeping is the recent increase in the number of people leaving Home Office accommodation (such as hotels) after receiving decisions on their asylum applications.

According to the local government collective, while it’s positive that applicants are receiving decisions, boroughs reiterate the need to ensure adequate housing arrangements are in place and that the Home Office works closely with councils to avoid refugees and asylum-seekers becoming homeless.

London Councils is urging the government to extend the 28-day ‘move on’ period, during which newly recognised refugees are expected to move out of Home Office accommodation and into new housing arrangements. Boroughs say a 56-day period and improved financial support would help ensure these individuals have adequate housing and do not resort to sleeping rough.

London faces the most severe homelessness challenges in the country. Homelessness takes many forms, with rough sleeping the most visible. However, an estimated 170,000 homeless Londoners live in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough. This equates to one in 50 residents of the capital, and includes one in every 23 children.

London Councils is seeking wider policy action to address these homelessness pressures, including an uplift in Local Housing Allowance housing benefit for low-income private renters and a boost to Homelessness Prevention Grant funding for local support services.

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To help find solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis, HQN has put together an event to explore ways that local authorities, housing associations and the NHS are working in partnership to address the situation in different parts of the country. The session, scheduled for 6 December, will see Keith Cooper joined by Sam Pratt, SharedHealth Foundation, Rob McCartney, Manchester City Council, Jon Pritchard, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Signe Gosmann, Justlife Foundation.

To find out more and book your place, click here.