New data released this week (30 October 2026) reveals that 4,678 people were sleeping rough in London in July to September of this year. Although this number has stayed similar to last summer, only decreasing by 1%, new rough sleepers are still taking to the streets for the first time, accounting for 46% of the total. This shows the scale of the government’s pledge to offer everyone a route off the streets by Christmas, following the Prime Minister’s rough sleeping summit this week and the announcement that funding for this pledge has been doubled.
But the numbers also demonstrate why these offers must include suitable accommodation and support tailored to each person’s needs: almost eight in ten people seen sleeping rough who were assessed had support needs, such as poor mental health or alcohol and substance use.
The data by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) also shows that during the period:
- Outreach teams in the capital recorded 2,168 people sleeping rough for the first time.
- The number of long-term rough sleepers deemed to be living on the streets was 819.
- The proportion of people seen rough sleeping with a mental health need is now at almost 60%.
Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s said:
“These numbers show a concerning number of people sleeping on the streets of London this summer when Andy Burnham made his pledge to end rough sleeping. But they also paint a picture of the complicated reality behind that pledge – and why, as the Prime Minister said, you cannot put a simple timeframe on everyone’s journey of recovering from homelessness.
“Every day and every night, our frontline teams meet people who have been forced to sleep rough for long periods. They often struggle to trust systems that have failed them before, so building relationships with them can take months or even years. As the data shows us, almost eight in ten people rough sleeping in London this summer had support needs such as poor mental health or substance use. Many have experienced domestic abuse and trauma, which make it even more difficult for them to rebuild their lives.
“That’s why we know a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. If we want to properly seize this opportunity, the government and homelessness services must work together to ensure that people receive tailored support. Today’s figures show us why this is so crucial: at least 819 people were living on the streets long term. The longer they are left without support, the more complex their situation becomes.
“This rise in rough sleeping shows us the urgency of this week’s announcement that the Government will double the funding for this pledge. The Prime Minister’s commitment to supporting people for years beyond this initial push is very welcome. We are eager to work with the Government and partners to deliver on the Prime Minister’s ambition: helping people to engage with services, find appropriate housing, and recover from homelessness for good.
“But to end rough sleeping, we must also fix the systemic issues that push people into homelessness in the first place. That means making rents affordable by raising local housing allowance rates, which unfortunately stayed frozen in this week’s Budget. With the right approach, an end to rough sleeping could be on the horizon in London and beyond.”