Rough sleeping in London rises again

In London 8,096 people slept rough over the course of 2015/16, figures released today revealed.
 
The figures, from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), marks a 7 per cent rise on the previous year, and more than double the reported figure of 3,975 in 2010/11.
 
The number of people seen rough sleeping in Westminster has risen by 287 (an 11 per increase), and five other boroughs recorded more than 300 rough sleepers in the year (Camden: 641; Lambeth: 445; City of London: 440; Tower Hamlets: 395; and Southwark: 372).
 
Liz Rutherfoord, SHP Chief Executive, said: “These stark figures underpin the urgent need for our new mayor to tackle London's homelessness crisis as a priority. We need to see ambitious and sustainable action from Sadiq Khan that not only helps people move off the streets, but prevents them from getting there in the first place by increasing the supply of social housing and ensuring that people renting in the private sector have greater security.”