Rough sleeping hits record high in England

The number of people sleeping rough in England has reached a record high, rising for the fourth year in a row, official statistics have revealed.

There were an estimated 4,763 people sleeping rough on a single night as of Autumn 2025, the newly-released figures show. This us up 3 per cent from 2024, and exceeds the previous peak of 4,751 seen in 2017.

The figure is also up 171 per cent from 2010, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) found.

Around 43 per cent of all people sleeping rough are in London and the South East, the statistics add.

The MHCLG release also reveals that the number of households living in temporary accommodation continues to reach record levels, at 134,760 in September – an increase of seven per cent from the same time in 2024.

These include 175,990 children now living in temporary accommodation – up 12,020 (7 per cent) in a year, another record figure.

The findings come on the same day that the department has revealed a £50 million pledge to help councils and organisations tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.

Split across two schemes, £37 million will be allocated to voluntary, community and faith groups which deliver day-to-day homelessness prevention services across England.

The remainder of the funds will go to 28 areas facing the greatest long term rough sleeping pressures, including London.

This funding forms part of the government’s £3.6 billion homelessness strategy, which aims to halve long-term sleeping, end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families, and improve homelessness prevention, by 2029.

Commenting on the statistics, Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, said: “It is a national scandal that the number of people homeless in England is now the highest since records began. The government is absolutely right to recognise the problem, but all the support in the world won’t help people into a home if there simply aren’t any available. We need bold action to end the housing emergency for good.

She added: “The record numbers currently homeless simply cannot wait any longer for a secure home. Rather than focusing on quick fixes, the government must tackle the problem at its root. It must deliver at least 90,000 social rent homes a year for 10 years, and urgently unfreeze housing benefit to end homelessness.”

Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, said: “It’s deeply concerning that the government cannot get a grasp on rough sleeping.

“It’s clearly not enough to throw resources at pulling people out of homelessness, given the rate that people are falling victim to it.

Joseph Elliott, lead analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “When we fail to make sure we all have a decent home that we can afford, we’re failing in our most basic responsibility to protect people’s dignity. It’s appalling that the number of children growing up in temporary accommodation and the number of people sleeping rough have reached record highs.

“Homelessness and rough sleeping aren’t inevitable, but they will continue if private renters remain trapped paying unaffordable rents and we fail to build enough social homes. Exorbitant rents keep families mired in financial instability and uncertainty, with the threat of homelessness hanging over their heads.”

Announcing the £50 million funding today, housing minister Steve Reed said: “Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society.

“I’ve seen for myself the vital work that organisations are doing to help support people who have nowhere to live.

“This announcement is about helping those incredible frontline workers.

“It is the next step in our National Plan to End Homelessness which will finally tackle this shameful crisis on our streets.”

MHCLG was approached for comment.