The number of rough sleepers in England has soared, with charities struggling to meet the rising demand for emergency accommodation. The latest figures from Chain, the homelessness information network, show that rough sleepers in London increased from 3,107 in March 2023 to 4,612 by December. Over a third of those affected are under 35, a stark overrepresentation compared to the national adult population average of 27% in England and Wales.
The crisis is being felt nationwide. Roundabout, a Sheffield-based charity that has provided hostel accommodation for a decade, ran out of space for the first time last year. In response, it housed 15 people in hotels—a number that has since tripled. Similarly, Depaul UK, an organization supporting at-risk youth in Manchester, saw the proportion of rough sleepers seeking help rise from a third in May 2023 to 60% by December.
Jasvir Singh CBE, Co-founder of City Sikhs and South Asian Heritage Month told Asian Voice, "When it comes to the rise in youth homelessness, it's crucial to recognise the multifaceted factors at play—from soaring housing costs to a lack of appropriate support networks. Shelters and charities struggle daily with increased demand, and their ability to respond is stifled by limited resources, particularly after 14 years of austerity measures. Our young people are our future, and we desperately need to ensure that they are not left behind when they need us the most. This crisis should act as a call to action for our society to ensure that every young person has a safe place to call home."
A significant challenge exacerbating the crisis is the decline of “supported exempt accommodation” projects, which provide housing for vulnerable individuals such as care leavers and domestic abuse survivors. Last year, 29 such providers operated in London; today, only 15 remain. The sector has been plagued by exploitative landlords offering substandard housing, leading to regulatory crackdowns. In 2023, MPs passed the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act to address these issues, but local authorities have been slow to approve new accommodations.
Young people face a "triple discrimination" in securing housing. Under-35s receive reduced housing benefits, under-25s get lower universal credit, and under-21s are paid a lower minimum wage. With social housing scarce and private rents exorbitant, supported exempt accommodation remains their only viable option. Yet, even accessing this support can be challenging, as many must prove additional needs.
Earlier this month, MPs on the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee issued an urgent warning, describing England’s rough sleeping crisis as "a source of national shame." Committee chair Florence Eshalomi MP pointed to the success of the pandemic-era "Everyone In" initiative as proof that ending rough sleeping is possible.
Angela Rayner is leading an inter-ministerial group addressing homelessness and rough sleeping. In December, the government allocated nearly £1bn in homelessness funding, including £37m for a rough sleeping accommodation programme. However, with the crisis escalating, charities warn that immediate and decisive action is needed to prevent more young people from being left on the streets.
