167,000 in London without home at Christmas - Shelter

There has been a 11% increase in homelessness in the past year, according to Shelter's figures

Homelessness in London has increased by 11% in one year, new data from housing charity Shelter suggests.

At least 167,000 people in London, up from 150,000, are estimated to spend this Christmas without a long-term home, according to the charity, which it says is the equivalent of 1 in 51 people in the capital.

On London's streets on any given night, about 858 of these people are sleeping rough, Shelter says.

Polly Neate, the charity's chief executive, blamed the increase on a "chronic underinvestment" in social homes.

The government said it was spending £2bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.

Emergency housing 'out of control'

The charity estimated about 165,220 people were living in temporary accommodation in London as of 30 June.

Shelter said its analysis of official homelessness figures and responses to Freedom of Information requests showed Newham had the highest rate of homelessness in the capital, with an estimated 17,234 homeless people, including those living in temporary accommodation arranged by the council.

This was equivalent to 1 in 20 people, Shelter said.

Newham was followed by Westminster, where data suggests 8,137 people are homeless, including those living in temporary accommodation arranged by the council, and then Hackney, with 7,923 people.

Ms Neate said: “Homelessness is on nobody’s Christmas list, but 167,000 people in London will spend this time of year in a tiny hostel room or freezing in a doorway.

“The housing emergency is out of control."

She called on the government to "take this emergency seriously".

Shelter said the analysis was the "most comprehensive overview of recorded homelessness".

But it warned the true figure could be higher due to some "hidden homelessness" such as sofa-surfing.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

"That's why we are spending £2bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, including making £1bn available so councils can give financial support for people to find a new home and move out of temporary accommodation."

Newham Council said it was working "incredibly hard" to support residents facing homelessness in the current housing crisis.

The authority said it had launched a "comprehensive homelessness response programme".