London hotel accommodation for rough sleepers to be extended, charity says

Crisis said the arrangement is "a dignified and proven approach that can, and does, change lives"

Rough sleepers in London will have their hotel stays extended to give them time to plan for future accommodation.

Homeless charities Crisis and St Mungo's have extended their hotel room and support provision until 19 January.

Crisis said about 150 people will now be supported with a hotel room, dedicated support worker and access to advice.

It comes as a record high number of rough sleepers was counted in London earlier this year.

• Highest rough sleeper numbers seen in London count

• The last lockdown rough sleeper living in a hotel

The latest figures, for July to September, show 4,068 people were found to be sleeping on the streets by outreach teams, according to London's Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain).

That figure is up 12% compared with the same period in 2022, with more than half - 2,086 people - sleeping rough for the first time.

It is the third year the arrangements, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and central government, have been extended.

Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said extending the hotel stays gives guests, staff and volunteers "crucial extra time" and the accommodation is "a dignified and proven approach that can, and does, change lives".

A commission said the government is not set to meet its target to end rough sleeping by the end of 2024

"In these extra weeks, guests will continue to receive tailored one-to-one support and will be provided with clear routes into year-round services on offer from organisations like Crisis," he added.

Housing and homelessness minister Felicity Buchan said the funding forms part of the previously-announced £2bn over three years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping nationally.

However, an independent commission said in September the government was not set to meet its 2019 manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament.

In a report, the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping said the target would be missed due to "chronic and unresolved" issues in the housing system.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]