The number of people spotted living on London’s streets rose 15 per cent in a year, new rough sleeping figures show.
The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) showed 363 people were living on the streets of the English capital between January and March 2022 after being spotted by frontline workers multiple times over a three-week period. However, the figure was 26 per cent lower than the last three months of 2021.
Overall rough sleeping fell across London in the period with the 2,714 people spotted sleeping rough in the capital representing a 10 per cent fall when compared to between January and March 2021.

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Homelessness charities praised the progress made in reducing rough sleeping in London but warned the cost of living crisis could see more people lose their home in the coming months without greater support.
Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, called on the Westminster government to invest in affordable housing and Housing First to hit its target of ending rough sleeping nationally by 2024.

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“It’s pleasing to see a drop in the number of people forced to sleep on our streets. But with thousands still having to endure the brutality of bedding down night after night, and a rise in people living on the streets, we still have a long way to go before we can take our foot off the pedal,” said Downie.