Homeless numbers on streets of London hit new record high during first months of Labour government with nearly half of rough sleepers UK nationals By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent and Oliver Price, Data Journalist Published: 06:37 EDT, 1 November 2024 | Updated: 07:10 EDT, 1 November 2024 e-mail 5 View comments The number of rough sleepers in London has risen by a fifth to hit a new record high during the first months of the Labour government. A total of 4,780 people were living on the capital's streets between July and September - a near 20 per cent rise on the same period last year. Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) show just under half of rough sleepers are UK nationals, with Romanians the next most common nationality (8.
1 per cent) followed by Polish people (5.2 per cent). The scale of the crisis poses major questions for London Mayor Sadiq Khan , who is eight years into his term, as well as the new Labour government - which has now been in power for four months.
Out of all rough sleepers, 52 per cent of those assessed were experiencing mental health issues, with 35 per cent having a problem with drugs and 31 per cent dependent on alcohol . Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
Tents line the pavements of Tottenham Court Road in central London. Westminster had the highest number of rough sleepers in the capital Chain said the number of rough sleepers it recorded between July and Septemb.