'Worrying' increase in young rough sleepers in London

Homeless charity Centrepoint says the figures "should sound the alarm of this still deepening crisis"

The number of young people aged 25 and under sleeping rough on London's streets has increased by more than a third, according to a charity which supports young homeless people.

Centrepoint said its analysis of newly published figures by City Hall showed the numbers of all rough sleepers in London had increased to their highest point since 2020.

The charity's spokesperson said the increase was "really worrying", and that the capital was entering "uncharted territory" with the scale of homelessness.

A spokesperson for the mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was "committed" to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030.

'Spiral further'

Centrepoint said its analysis showed that between April and June this year, 4,223 people were seen sleeping rough, an increase of about a third on the year before.

Almost 300 were young people aged 25 and under, a 36% increase on the year before, it added.

Dr Tom Kerridge, policy and research manager at the charity, said: "This huge jump in young people found sleeping rough is really worrying.

"There is no safe night on the streets whoever you are but young people are particularly at risk."

He added it was "vital" people needing help were supported into "stable accommodation" as soon as possible.

Dr Kerridge said Mr Khan's pledge to end rough sleeping was the "right ambition" but it would be "reliant on support from central government".

"These figures should sound the alarm of this still deepening crisis.

"Hopefully both City Hall and Downing Street are ready to step up and get a grip before the situation spirals even further,” he said.

Homelessness is at its highest levels since the pandemic, according to the new figures

Centrepoint said the figures, released on Wednesday, reflected "only the tip of the iceberg" when it comes to the scale of homelessness in the capital.

It said many more were "hidden homelessness", with people sofa surfing or trapped in unstable accommodation.

It also suggested some people might struggle to get help from local authorities due to a "£150million shortfall in youth homelessness funding".

'Quadrupled budget'

A spokesperson for the mayor said: “No one should have to sleep rough on our country’s streets, so it’s shameful that numbers are rising in London and across the country.

"The mayor is committed to doing everything in his power to help as many people off the streets and into more secure accommodation, which is why he’s quadrupled City Hall’s rough sleeping budget since 2016."

They added the mayor would work with the government to "turbocharge housebuilding" in London and work towards ending rough sleeping by 2030.

A government spokesperson said: "Tackling homelessness and rough-sleeping means addressing the deep-rooted issues that cause it.

"That is why we will develop a cross-government strategy so we can work with mayors and councils, including those in London, to get us back on track to ending homelessness for good."