Councils warn of emergency as London homelessness reaches new records

London Councils has published a new report, which reveals that London boroughs collectively spent £114 million a month on temporary accommodation for homeless Londoners in the 2023-24 financial year. This is equivalent to £4 million a day.

The 'London’s Homelessness Emergency' report also reveals that boroughs’ spending on temporary accommodation jumped by 68 per cent in just one year.

The report highlights that homelessness in the capital is at record levels and that the current situation is “utterly unsustainable”.

It was also revealed that more than 183,000 Londoners are estimated to be homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough. This is the highest-ever level of recorded homelessness in the capital – equivalent to at least one in 50 Londoners.

There are almost 90,000 children in temporary accommodation, one out of every 21 children in London. This means that on average, there is at least one homeless child in every London classroom.

In the last ten years since 2014, rough sleeping has increased by 58 per cent.

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Regeneration, said: “The homelessness situation in the capital is nothing less than an emergency. London is the epicentre of a national crisis – we are grappling with the most severe housing and homelessness pressures in the country.

“Homelessness is an injustice and has a devastating impact on individuals and families, undermining Londoners’ health, wellbeing, and opportunities. As these figures show, it also brings utterly unsustainable costs to councils. Without urgent action, homelessness pressures will break London boroughs’ budgets.

“We welcome the government’s commitment to tackling homelessness and to building the affordable housing our communities need. Boroughs are relying on the upcoming Budget to bring renewed support for local homelessness services and policies to reduce homelessness as quickly as possible.”