Rough sleeping in London

Rough sleeping (sleeping outside or in places not designed for living) is one of the most dangerous forms of homelessness. The average age of death of people rough sleeping in London is 45 years old. 

The Mayor’s Life Off the Streets programme helps people sleeping rough come off the streets and rebuild their lives. This programme complements services provided by London’s boroughs and has helped more than 18,000 people off the streets.

However, rough sleeping is on the rise in London. During the pandemic, the numbers of people rough sleeping decreased due to the government’s ‘Everyone in’ initiative. This helped local authorities and partners accommodate and support people sleeping rough. 

After the initiative ended, the numbers of people rough sleeping in London have risen again. In 2024, the number of people rough sleeping in London was the highest ever recorded. 

There are many factors contributing to the rise of rough sleeping, including: 

• The cost of living
• London’s housing shortage
• Cuts to public services 

20% of new people rough sleeping in London last year had been evicted from their homes.  

The number of newly recognised refugees rough sleeping in London is also steadily increasing. 17% of new people rough sleeping in London in 2023/24 came from Home Office asylum support accommodation. 

The Mayor has committed to end rough sleeping in London by 2030.  

 To help achieve this, the Mayor is putting together a new Rough Sleeping Plan of Action. This will: 

• Outline which services and interventions are needed to end rough sleeping 
• Develop a new data framework to measure our progress towards ending rough sleeping 
• Set out new approaches to collaboration between partners helping to end rough sleeping (such as local councils and charities)

Volunteering, donating or hosting are a few examples of how Londoners can help end rough sleeping.  

City Hall wants to know what actions you would feel comfortable taking to help end rough sleeping.

Your feedback in our survey will inform the Rough Sleeping Plan of Action. This will be published in Spring 2025. 

Alongside our survey, City Hall’s Housing Team are also working with a steering group from Groundswell to hear from people with lived experience of rough sleeping. This will help inform the Plan of Action.  

Ramiye, Rory and Sarah from City Hall will be reading your contributions.

The Housing team co-ordinates the Mayor’s work on housing, including helping people sleeping rough come off the streets and rebuild their lives. 

The Housing team also works closely with boroughs and partners to support the building of affordable homes, job creation and regeneration.