London’s homelessness crisis worsens as Sadiq Khan vows to end rough sleeping

As more than 200,000 Londoners will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to tackle homelessness.

Data from London Councils reveals that more than 100,000 children will be in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day, an 8% increase since last year and a 35% rise compared to 2021.

The news comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a £1 million fund and pledged to end rough sleeping by 2030.

London is the epicentre of a national homelessness crisis

According to London Councils, an estimated 210,000 Londoners will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day. This equates to around one in every 50 residents of the capital.

London Councils estimates there is at least one homeless child in every London classroom.

London Councils has warned about the growing costs faced by boroughs in securing temporary accommodation, saying the average cost in the capital has risen by 75% over the past five years, compared with a 23% increase in market rents over the same period.

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ executive member for housing and regeneration, welcomes the government’s homeless strategy but says more needs to be done.

She said: “It is heartbreaking that so many children in the capital are homeless and set to spend Christmas in temporary accommodation.

“London is the epicentre of a national homelessness crisis that has been years in the making, and the situation here is nothing less than an emergency. The impact on children is devastating and the pressures on local services are unsustainable.

“Boroughs are working hard to support homeless Londoners as best we can, but we need more action at a national level too. We welcome the government’s new homelessness strategy and its focus on a cross-departmental approach to tackling this crisis. It is vital this delivers the policy changes and resources we need to turn the tide on homelessness in the years ahead.”

Too many low-income Londoners are struggling to find homes within LHA

London Councils is calling for a boost to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed housing benefit rates will remain frozen for a second year in a row in 2026/27.

They say: “Too many low-income Londoners are struggling to find homes within LHA limits, putting them at risk of homelessness and adding pressure to local services.”

London Councils is also urging action to sustain social housing finances and support an expanded delivery of homes for social rent.

With London’s social housing sector facing an ongoing financial crisis, the organisation is calling on the government to introduce a social rent “convergence rate” of at least £3 per week from April 2026.

End rough sleeping for good in London by 2030

The news comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan vowed to tackle rough sleeping, with £1 million in funding aimed at delivering intensive interventions in rough sleeping hotspots and launching pilot schemes to prevent homelessness and secure housing for those with additional needs.

He also pledges to end rough sleeping in London by 2030.

He said: “Every Londoner deserves a safe and secure home. The capital is acutely feeling the long-term consequences of a national housing crisis and local authorities have had their budgets slashed by the previous government, forcing them away from preventing homelessness and into crisis management mode.

“My announcement is about transforming the support that we give to those forced to sleep rough on our streets, and those at risk of rough sleeping. That’s why, alongside new Floating Hubs, we are launching two new pilot services to help people move into secure long-term housing. These will make sure that more people can get the support they need, when they need it, as we help them off the streets for good.

“As Mayor, I have supported nearly 20,000 people off the streets since 2016 and I will work closely with government, councils, experts and partners to deliver my commitment to end rough sleeping for good in London by 2030 as we work together to build a safer, fairer and better London for everyone.”