New figures for 2016/17 released today from the 'Combined Homelessness and Information Network' (CHAIN) show the number of rough sleepers in London has not risen significantly for the first time in five years. 

Responding, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

"While it is encouraging to see the overall number of rough sleepers in the capital is no longer rising, worryingly, the number of people remaining on or returning to the streets has gone up. The truth is that 8,000 people sleeping on the capital’s streets is 8,000 too many.

“In the last few months we’ve seen pledges to end rough sleeping from the Mayors of Greater Manchester and West Midlands. We now need a similar commitment from Sadiq Khan, and a national rough sleeping strategy from the Government to support it. The recent success of the Homelessness Reduction Act shows what can be achieved when the political will exists to tackle homelessness. Crisis stands ready to work with the Mayor of London to do whatever it takes to bring an end to the devastation of rough sleeping.”