Rough sleeping in England reached record highs last autumn, as new statistics released today (26th February 2026) show the fourth annual increase in a row.
The rough sleeping snapshot is an annual single-night estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in England, carried out by local authorities between 1 October and 30 November each year. It provides a point-in-time measure of visible street homelessness and is used to track national trends in rough sleeping.
According to the new figures:
- 4,793 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in England on a single night in autumn 2025, a rise of 3% since 2024
- This is the fourth successive rise in a row, and a staggering 171% higher than 2010 when records began
- The figures also show that 43% of all people sleeping rough are in London and the South East
- 1,277 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in London, a decrease of 3% from 2024
- A record number of women were estimated to be sleeping rough at 733
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also released new figures on statutory homelessness in England today, identifying the numbers of people approaching their local councils for help preventing or relieving their homelessness between July to September 2025.
This data reveals that:
- A record 134,760 households were living in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2025, a rise of 7% from the same period last year
- Over half (60%) of people supported to prevent or relieve their homelessness in this period had one or more additional support needs – with a history of mental health problems accounting for the largest proportion
- 81,360 people were offered support by their local council to prevent or relieve their homelessness, down 2.6% from July to September 2024
- Of these, 44,970 people were deemed already homeless and offered support, down 2.3% from the same quarter last year
- The number of households threatened with homelessness because of Section 21 eviction notices has decreased by 18%
Responding to the figures, Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said:
“Homelessness, in all its forms, continues to rise across England: a devastating reality shown again in today’s statistics.
On a single night last autumn, a record 4,793 people were sleeping rough in England– the fourth annual increase running, and a 3% rise on autumn 2024. Meanwhile, a record 134,760 households are stuck in temporary accommodation –a rise of 7% from the same period in 2024.
Behind every statistic is a human story, with the profound instability taking a significant toll on mental and physical health. Together, these figures expose the depth of this emergency as thousands of people continue to struggle without the security of a stable home, and many more teeter on the brink of losing theirs.
At St Mungo’s, our frontline teams meet people when they are most vulnerable and have been forced to sleep on the streets with nowhere else to turn. We see how the chronic shortage of social and affordable housing, combined with overwhelmed support services, traps people into prolonged homelessness as they wait too long for the help they need. We also see how easily people leaving hospital, prison or care can fall through the cracks of the system and end up on the streets.
The Government has set out its ambition for change in the National Plan to End Homelessness, and the real challenge now is delivery. What will move the needle is sustained, structured support from frontline services like St Mungo’s backed by clear lines of accountability across Government. Funding is also essential, and today’s announcement of £15 million as part of the Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme is much welcomed. Sustained investment will be key to driving change and realising our shared goal of ending homelessness for good.”
