Rise in London rough sleeping a 'stark reminder of huge challenge' facing Burnham

Campaigners have said a rise in rough sleeping in London is a “stark reminder of the huge challenge” Andy Burnham faces in his pledge to get people off the streets.

4,678 people were recorded as sleeping rough in the capital in July to September this year, data shows. While this is a decrease of 1 per cent on the same three-month period in 2025, the figure has increased by nearly a fifth (18 per cent) on the previous quarter this year.

According to the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) figures, which were published on Friday, 819 people were classed as living on the streets – a rise of 8 per cent on the same time last year and up by a fifth (20 per cent) on the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, first-time rough sleepers accounted for nearly half (46 per cent) of the total number in July to September.

Mr Burnham said on becoming PM in July that it would be his “first instruction: to end rough sleeping in our country”.

He has since vowed to give “every single person” sleeping on the streets an offer of help by Christmas.

This week he announced that Government funding would be doubled “so that people aren’t just offered a safe route off the streets this winter but have that same support right through the rest of this Parliament too”.

The Chancellor confirmed a further £432 million in Wednesday’s Budget to help tackle rough sleeping.

The move brought total investment behind the Prime Minister’s pledge to £874 million, aimed at allowing the rough sleeping programme to continue until the end of the current Parliament in 2029.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, the national membership body for frontline homelessness services, said: “The increase in rough sleeping across London, and particularly of those spending longer on our streets, is a stark reminder of the huge challenge London and the wider country face in turning the Prime Minister’s ambition to end rough sleeping into action.”

He said while funding is welcome, “evidently that ambition can’t be realised without ensuring resource and investment reaches the frontline organisations delivering the vital support services needed to help people off the streets”.

He called for “truly cross-government accountability and commitment, alongside close collaboration between national government, regional government and the voluntary sector”.

Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said the numbers “paint a picture of the complicated reality” behind Mr Burnham’s pledge.

58 per cent of rough sleepers had a mental health support need, the data showed, while some 30 per cent needed support for alcohol issues and 43 per cent for drug-related problems.

Ms Haddad added: “As the data shows us, almost eight in 10 people rough sleeping in London this summer had support needs such as poor mental health or substance use. Many have experienced domestic abuse and trauma, which make it even more difficult for them to rebuild their lives.

“That’s why we know a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. If we want to properly seize this opportunity, the government and homelessness services must work together to ensure that people receive tailored support.”

Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said the rise “underlines the urgent need for action”.

While welcoming the increased Government funding, he warned continued cost-of-living pressures will “continue to push more people towards homelessness and into need of support from charities”.

The most up-to-date annual, national statistics estimated there were 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England.