The record sleepers in England is trend, with 2025 marking the fourth consecutive year that rough sleeping numbers have risen. The figures, which show a 3% increase from the previous year, are a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to address the issue. Charities, including Shelter and Crisis, have warned that the official figures underestimate the true scale of the problem, with some estimates suggesting that the actual sleepers could be as high as 15,000. The issue is not limited to rough sleeping, with the number of children in homeless families living in temporary accommodation also reaching a record high.
Sarah Elliott, the chief executive of Shelter, described the situation as "a national scandal," highlighting the need for government action to tackle the impact of high private sector rents and build more social housing. Joanna Elson, the chief executive of Independent Age, also noting that older private renters are struggling to afford their rent, which can lead to eviction and homelessness. The charity's figures show that 15,690 households headed by older people are at risk of homelessness due to housing benefit falling behind rent levels, a rise of 79% in the last five years.
The government has launched a strategyving rough sleeping by the end of this parliament, and has announced a £50m fund to support homelessness charities and target areas with high rough sleeping. The Renters' Rights Act,no fault" private rented sector evictions, is also set to come into effect in May. However, charities and organizations are calling for more to be done to address the root causes of homelessness, including providing more social housing and supporting those at risk of homelessness. Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, said that the new figures "paint a bleak picture of the state of the nation," while Rick Henderson, the chief executive of Homeless Link, described the situation as "devastating" and called for ending homelessness to be a political and social priority.
The homelessness minister, Alison McGovern, acknowledged that the situation is "not3.6 tackle homelessness, £50m help councils and voluntary groups. warning to be done to address the issue, and that the government's efforts must be sustained and increased in order to make a meaningful impact. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that addressing homelessness will require a concerted, charities, and individuals, and that the well-being of thousands of people in England depends on it.
