Between January and March 2025, 4,427 people were recorded sleeping rough in London, including 2,085 new rough sleepers – a slight decrease from the previous quarter*. Encouragingly, 73% of those new to the streets spent just one night rough sleeping, a sign that early intervention efforts like our No Night Out programme are making a difference.
However, 706 people were classified as ‘living on the streets’, highlighting the urgent need for sustained outreach and support for those experiencing long-term homelessness.
A large number of individuals continue to face complex needs; a reminder that spending even just one night on the streets can have a significant impact on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Of the 3,550 people assessed:
| Alcohol support needs | Drug support needs | Mental health support needs | More than one of alcohol, drugs and/or mental health support needs | No alcohol, drugs or mental health support needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28% | 35% | 50% | 34% | 31% |
These figures underscore the importance of integrated, person-centred services that tackle mental health, substance use, and physical health challenges together.
“Our No Night Out approach is proving effective, but for those already living on the streets, we must offer unwavering, compassionate support. Ending street homelessness is not only possible – it’s essential. It begins with services that meet people where they are and responds in a patient and trauma-informed manner.” – Jenny Travassos, Director of Housing and Services
Prevention and rapid response save lives – and your support helps us to act swiftly, moving people off the streets for good.
Learn more below.
Who is rough sleeping in London?
Of the 4,427 people reported to be rough sleeping whose gender was known:
Majority were men.
- Male: 3,628 (83.2%)
- Female: 724 (16.6%)
- Non-binary: 8 (0.2%)
- Gender unknown: 37
Majority were aged 36 – 45.
- Under 18: 6 (0.1%)
- 18-25: 471 (10.6%)
- 26-35: 1,204 (27.2%)
- 36-45: 1,317 (29.7%)
- 46-55: 920 (20.8%)
- Over 55: 509 (11.5%)
Majority identified as ‘White British’ (25.8%).
Screenshot taken from 2024/25 Q4 CHAIN report.
The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), reports on the demographics of those who are found to be rough sleeping during their street counts, to give a greater insight into who this issue is affecting.
Where in London are homelessness rates at their highest?
Westminster has the highest number of people rough sleeping out of all Greater London boroughs by a large gap, with 1,001 people bedded down in the area in the latest street count. Camden has the next highest rate of rough sleeping, with 339 people seen bedded down between January – March 20256.
The area with the lowest number of people rough sleeping was Sutton (9).
Live in London? Find out how many people were rough sleeping in your area.
- Barking & Dagenham: 44
- Barnet: 52
- Bexley: 48
- Brent: 187
- Bromley: 40
- Camden: 339
- City of London: 257
- Croydon: 124
- Ealing: 283
- Enfield: 69
- Greenwich: 133
- Hackney: 62
- Hammersmith & Fulham: 114
- Haringey: 112
- Harrow: 28
- Havering: 14
- Hillingdon: 165
- Hounslow: 103
- Islington: 136
- Kensington & Chelsea: 81
- Kingston upon Thames: 42
- Lambeth: 147
- Lewisham: 89
- Merton: 17
- Newham: 164
- Redbridge: 90
- Richmond: 26
- Southwark: 195
- Sutton: 9
- Tower Hamlets: 175
- Waltham Forest: 96
- Wandsworth: 58
- Westminster: 1,001
January – March 2025.
Outreach teams across London record this information. So, it is worth noting that this report does not include people from “hidden homeless” groups such as those “sofa surfing” or living in squats, unless they were also been seen bedded down on the streets.
Prevent someone from a night on London’s streets, helping them into emergency accommodation.
A donation of £75 could save someone from rough sleeping, protecting them from the dangers it poses*[2].
*Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) report, Q4 2024/25: January – March 2025.
*[2]The cost of one night of emergency accommodation via our No Night Out programme costs approximately £75 per person.