The latest data from Combined Homelessness and Information Network shows an increase in the number of new people sleeping rough in London at a time when “homelessness services are at breaking point.”

Lee Buss-Blair, our Care & Support Director of Operations, has shared his thoughts below, which includes a call for an inflation-linked increase in support funding:

“While it is good to see a slight decrease in the number of people sleeping rough on the last quarter, it is still concerning that the number of new people sleeping rough on the streets of London has increased by almost a third (29%) when compared year-on-year.

“Homelessness services are at breaking point due to challenges in recruiting new staff, at the time when the support they provide is needed more than ever.

“Ensuring that there is a viable route off of the streets is critical if we are to see sustained improvements in rough sleeping, but we know homelessness supported housing services are struggling financially because of the huge increase in the cost of energy bills.

“It is imperative that the Government provides an inflation-linked increase in support funding in the spring budget, as well as provide support with energy costs to people living in communal settings, to ensure that homelessness services can continue to provide support for people at a time when the recession threatens to lead to further increases in homelessness and rough sleeping.”

Read the Combined Homelessness and Information Network’s full report here