Westminster Identified as England's Rough Sleeping Capital Amid Rising Rates in London
New estimates reveal that Westminster has the highest number of rough sleepers in England, with a 16% increase in homelessness across London.
Westminster has been named the rough sleeping capital of England, according to recent estimates that reveal it had the highest number of individuals sleeping on the streets during a single night in August.
A total of 388 individuals were reported sleeping rough in Westminster, representing a 40% increase from the previous year.
Following Westminster, Camden recorded the second highest number with 132 rough sleepers, while the City of London had 86 individuals without shelter.
Across London, a total of 1,138 people were identified as sleeping rough on the same night, marking a 16% rise compared to last year.
This increase continues a disturbing trend, as it is the third consecutive year that the number of rough sleepers in the capital has risen, although it remains below the peak of 4,751 recorded in 2017.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, expressed deep concern over these findings, highlighting the devastating impact of homelessness in society.
He attributes the escalating crisis to multiple factors, including an ineffective welfare system, a severe shortage of affordable housing, overwhelmed homelessness services, and systemic issues such as the discharge of individuals from hospitals and prisons without adequate housing.
Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue and a crossbench peer, condemned the rise in rough sleeping as unacceptable, identifying it as a significant national issue.
He acknowledged the importance of emergency funding while cautioning that it should not replace long-term solutions that involve strategic investment and collaboration to effectively address the roots of homelessness.
In addition, newly released figures indicate that the number of children living in temporary accommodation has reached a record high of 164,040 as of the end of September.
This figure represents a 15% increase compared to the previous year and is the highest since records began in 2004. The situation has been exacerbated by recent shifts in funding allocations that have increased financial pressures on local councils, particularly as the costs associated with temporary accommodation continue to rise.
Adam Hug, a spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA) on housing, emphasized the urgent need for an increase in the temporary accommodation subsidy to help alleviate the growing financial burdens faced by councils managing homelessness.
A total of 388 individuals were reported sleeping rough in Westminster, representing a 40% increase from the previous year.
Following Westminster, Camden recorded the second highest number with 132 rough sleepers, while the City of London had 86 individuals without shelter.
Across London, a total of 1,138 people were identified as sleeping rough on the same night, marking a 16% rise compared to last year.
This increase continues a disturbing trend, as it is the third consecutive year that the number of rough sleepers in the capital has risen, although it remains below the peak of 4,751 recorded in 2017.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, expressed deep concern over these findings, highlighting the devastating impact of homelessness in society.
He attributes the escalating crisis to multiple factors, including an ineffective welfare system, a severe shortage of affordable housing, overwhelmed homelessness services, and systemic issues such as the discharge of individuals from hospitals and prisons without adequate housing.
Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue and a crossbench peer, condemned the rise in rough sleeping as unacceptable, identifying it as a significant national issue.
He acknowledged the importance of emergency funding while cautioning that it should not replace long-term solutions that involve strategic investment and collaboration to effectively address the roots of homelessness.
In addition, newly released figures indicate that the number of children living in temporary accommodation has reached a record high of 164,040 as of the end of September.
This figure represents a 15% increase compared to the previous year and is the highest since records began in 2004. The situation has been exacerbated by recent shifts in funding allocations that have increased financial pressures on local councils, particularly as the costs associated with temporary accommodation continue to rise.
Adam Hug, a spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA) on housing, emphasized the urgent need for an increase in the temporary accommodation subsidy to help alleviate the growing financial burdens faced by councils managing homelessness.
