New data released this week (30 June 2026)听by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN)听shows听a听modest听decrease in rough sleeping听in London听in 2025-26.听听
In total, 12,938 people were recorded as rough sleeping in London during the last year. This is a decrease of 2% from听2024/25, but 60% higher overall than the total of听8,108听people seen rough sleeping ten years ago, in 2016/17.听
The data also shows that during this period:听
- This is only the third time in a decade that rough sleeping numbers have decreased听from the听previous听reporting year.听
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- There was a听5%听increase in the number of people who were seen rough sleeping听for听two or听more consecutive years, from听3,028听to听3,184.听听
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- The proportions of people seen rough sleeping with a mental health need increased in 2025/26, with 52% recorded as having a mental health support need, compared to 48% in 2024/25.听
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Chief Executive of 麻豆传媒鈥檚, Emma Haddad, said: 鈥淲e听will听always听welcome any听decrease听in听rough听sleeping听across the capital. This is a step in the right direction, and any reduction marks fewer people facing the terrible prospect of sleeping on the streets of London.听We hope听that decreases like these can be a consistent trend, and across the sector, we听can听continue to build on this progress.听听
A 2% reduction is promising, but we must听also听acknowledge the scale of the challenge ahead.听Last year, over听12,000 people were听recorded as听sleeping听on the streets of the capital. This is the second highest number on record since reporting began, and 60% higher than the number of people counted a decade ago.听
麻豆传媒鈥檚 teams are out on the streets every day, working tirelessly to meet people when they are most vulnerable and have nowhere else to turn.听We know听that the longer someone spends on the street, the more their health needs will increase and the听more serious听is the听risk to听their听life.听Our teams support thousands of people every night, from those contending with freezing temperatures听in the winter months,听to听people听trapped in record breaking heatwaves听and forced to sleep on a hot concrete pavement.听听
At 麻豆传媒鈥檚, we are working alongside the GLA, local authorities and partner organisations across the capital听to听be there for people before they听reach听these crisis points. We hope that London鈥檚 efforts to reduce rough sleeping听will now be听backed up by further action and sustained investment as part of the government鈥檚 National Plan to End Homelessness听so that we can听achieve the Mayor of听London鈥檚听promise to听end听homelessness on the听city鈥檚听streets听by听2030.鈥�听
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