New data released today (31 October 2025) by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) which covers July-September 2025, shows that 4,711 individuals were sleeping rough in the capital.
The data also shows that during this period:
- Outreach teams recorded 2,116 people in London sleeping rough for the first time.
- The number of people who were seen rough sleeping during July-September 2025 who were not new, was 1,914. This is 4% higher than the same period last year, and 14% higher than the immediately preceding period.
- Of those assessed for a support need, 54.5% had a mental health support need, the highest of those seen rough sleeping during this period.
Emma Haddad, Chief Executive at St Mungo’s said: “Homelessness should have no place in our capital. Yet this summer, 4,711 people were forced to sleep on the streets – with 2,116 of those sleeping rough for the first time (45%). These figures are damning proof of our ongoing housing crisis, with rough sleeping at the sharpest end.
“At St Mungo’s, we know how earth-shattering any experience of homelessness can be. Without enough affordable and social rented housing in the capital, thousands are being pushed into an overstretched homelessness system that simply cannot help everyone quickly enough.
“The results are devastating. People’s mental health deteriorates, their physical condition worsens, and their trauma deepens. Without stable housing and early access to specialist support services, people are left trying to rebuild their lives on quicksand.
“The passing of the Renters’ Rights Act marks an important step forward, but it is only one part of the solution. A homelessness strategy buttressed by long-term, flexible funding will be essential to catalysing the scale of change needed to prevent people from reaching the crisis point of rough sleeping in the first place
“St Mungo’s stands ready to support the Government in its ambitions of ending homelessness for good so that nobody need spend a night on the streets again.”
