Andy Burnham faces rough sleeping challenge as figures rise

Despite Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping, new figures reveal an increase in the number of people sleeping rough in London.

Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) reveal 3,959 people were sleeping rough in London in April to June this year.

While this is down by 10% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, it is an increase of 53% compared to five years ago and up 47% over the past decade.

The news comes as the government has unveiled plans to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas.

Make rough sleeping a priority

According to the data, of those who had previously slept rough and moved into accommodation between April-June 2026, the vast majority (80%) were moved into hubs, shelters and other forms of temporary accommodation, rather than settled housing (just 20%).

The data also reveals 680 people were deemed to be “living on the streets”, having had a high number of contacts with outreach teams over three weeks or more.

This is also down on the same time last year but up 72% on five years ago and 75% on ten years ago.

Mr Burnham has unveiled plans to offer every rough sleeper in England accommodation this winter.

As part of a £442 million package, the government will provide emergency accommodation to help end the need for rough sleeping, alongside practical support with housing, health and other needs.

Mr Burnham said of the plan: “No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.

“I won’t accept it. That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.

“We did it in the pandemic. We can do it again. But it needs all of us. Government will put the money in. But I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too. Let’s get people out of the cold and let’s bring back hope”.

Rough sleeping a moral stain on our society

Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said of the homelessness figures: “Rough sleeping is a moral stain on our society, putting people at an increased risk of violence, abuse, and in the worst cases, even premature death.

“We are pleased that the number of people recorded sleeping rough in London has gone down since last year. This shows the positive impact that regional action can have in bringing people off the streets and needs to be a turning point in how we tackle homelessness. To have a real lasting impact and ensure that no one is forced to sleep rough, this needs to be backed by concerted political action to tackle the housing crisis at a national level.

“It has been immensely hopeful to see Andy Burnham commit to ending rough sleeping as his first instruction to government. Over the past decade, unaffordable private rents and a chronic shortage of social housing have caused homelessness to skyrocket across the country. Local councils are spending billions of pounds every year on temporary accommodation, which keeps people locked in a cycle of instability.

“The Prime Minister now has a unique opportunity to pave a new path for fixing this problem by taking an approach that prioritises giving people secure homes over temporary fixes.”