Sadiq Khan: Mayor announces £20m for London homelessness programme amid ‘alarming’ rise in rough sleepers

Sadiq Khan has described London’s worsening homelessness figures as “deeply alarming”, as he announces a further £20 million to tackle rough sleeping.

According to the most recent Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) report, released last month and covering April 2022 to March 2023, the number of rough sleepers in the capital has shot up by 21% compared to 2021/22.

Of the 10,053 reported, up from 8,329 the previous year and 54% higher than the 6,508 a decade ago, 6,391 were new rough sleepers, who had not been seen on London’s streets previously.

Mr Khan has previously called for powers such as rent regulations to support those fighting rising costs in the private rental sector, and has backed suspending Right to Buy in the capital in a bid to protect council housing stock.

In response, the mayor has now announced an investment of £20.2m into his Life off the Streets Programme, £17.27m of which will go to the No Second Night Out (NSNO) service, and the remaining £2.75m to a range of other pan-London schemes.

The NSNO funding will be used to deliver the service from April 1 2024 through to March 31 2027, with the possibility of extending for a further two years. One of the mayor’s key schemes for tackling homelessness in London, it supports those seen rough sleeping for the first time, reaching 1,887 people in 2022-23, 87% of whom did not return to sleeping on the streets.

Mr Khan said: “The most recent figures for rough sleeping in London are deeply alarming. The cost-of-living crisis is putting more and more Londoners at risk of losing their homes and ending up with nowhere to go.

“That’s why I’m delivering an additional £20m in funding to expand my Life off the Streets Programme. From emergency accommodation, to outreach and training, this new funding will boost pan-London support services and help ensure that those sleeping rough can access the vital help they need quicker, and leave the streets for good.

“It is one of my top priorities as mayor to end rough sleeping in the capital for good, and create a better, fairer London for all.”

Catherine Parsons, director of operations at Thames Reach, said: “The cost-of-living crisis, alongside other factors, have led to a sharp increase in the numbers of people sleeping rough on London’s streets, so we welcome the commitment of this additional funding which will help Thames Reach’s outreach workers to provide an immediate offer of accommodation to the people they meet.

“As we recruit staff to a range of roles to meet increased demand, we look forward to joining other organisations at the upcoming career fair to discuss how people can join us in our work ending rough sleeping.”

Chief executive of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy said: “We welcome the mayor’s initiative and this ongoing practical support for Veterans Aid and its work.

“This includes their significant financial contribution towards the refurbishment of our amazing New Belvedere House.  Thankfully, through our prevention work in partnership with the GLA over the years, very few of London’s rough sleepers are genuine UK veterans but for those who need support our Welfare to Wellbeing© programme offers a proven and highly effective route back to sustainable independent living.

“Funding is critical if we are to intervene swiftly, averting the threat of homelessness which could turn into harsh reality.”