Shelter report shows London remains ‘epicentre of homelessness crisis’

London remains the “epicentre of the homelessness crisis” in the UK, according to a report from charity Shelter.

Overall, there are 150,000 homeless people in London, with an average of one in 58 people affected.

And of the estimated 123,000 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England, nearly 74,000 are in the capital.

Children comprise almost half (45%) of all people recorded as homeless in the data, which covers up to June 30 2022.

It comes months after the number of people sleeping rough in London reached 5,712, a rise of just over a fifth, according to City Hall.

Newham in east London has the highest level of homelessness in the capital with one in 21 people affected, followed by Westminster with one in 27 people and Haringey in north London where one in 33 people are without a home.

London Councils, a cross-party organisation has described these figures as “devastating.”

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “Everyone deserves a permanent home, but the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the capital means too many Londoners find themselves homeless and reliant on temporary accommodation arranged by their local council.

“The numbers are so high they are equivalent to the entire population of a London borough.

“We’re concerned that cost-of-living pressures mean this desperate situation will get even worse before it gets better.

“Councils across the capital are seeing more and more residents turning to us for help.

“We urgently need renewed action on tackling homelessness, especially through making better use of the welfare system to help low-income households with their housing costs and through investing in the new affordable homes our communities are crying out for.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “With private rents and living costs continuing to soar, thousands of people are not just facing a winter of worry, they are at risk of losing the roof over their head.

“At Shelter, we are bracing ourselves for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023.

“More than ever, we will be relying on the public’s generosity to help us support and campaign for all those fighting for a safe home.”

A government spokesperson said: “Councils have a duty to ensure no family is left without a roof over their heads.

“That is why we’ve given them £366 million this year to help prevent evictions, support to pay deposits and provide temporary housing.

“Temporary accommodation is always a last resort. Over half a million households have been prevented from becoming homeless since 2018 through the Homelessness Reduction Act.

“We are also providing significant support to help people through these tough times by holding down energy bills and delivering up to £1,350 in direct cash payments to millions of vulnerable households.”