Homelessness in London

Homelessness in London is rising fast. Local authorities are stretched to breaking point, facing soaring costs and shrinking resources. The system is buckling. More people are pushed into homelessness, while those already fighting to stay afloat are left with fewer routes to support and protection.

So what makes homelessness in our capital different?

London’s scale and housing market stack the odds against people. Sky-high rents and housing benefits that simply don’t keep up are locking thousands out of safe, stable homes.

Here are some facts you should know about London’s homelessness crisis:

• Around 1 in 45 Londoners is homeless. London alone accounts for more than half of everyone experiencing homelessness in England, showing the scale of the crisis in our capital.
• Someone is pushed into homelessness every 7.5 minutes in London.
• The average Londoner spends half of their income on rent, leaving little left for food, bills, or simply getting by.
• The average person spends half their cash on rent in London, leaving little for other necessities.
• A quarter of all households on England’s social housing waiting lists are in London. That’s over 336,000 households stuck waiting for a home that simply doesn’t exist.
• The average wait for a social home in London is 27 years. For some family-sized homes, the wait stretches beyond a lifetime, exceeding 100 years in parts of the capital.
• Rough sleeping in London has risen sharply over the past decade. Today, 45% of the UK’s rough sleepers are in London and the South East, a sign of how concentrated the crisis has become.
• More than 210,000 Londoners are homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including around 102,000 children. That’s enough people to fill Wembley Stadium twice over.
• Official figures show that 82% of people sleeping rough in London are men. But homelessness does not look the same for women. Many hide away to stay safe, meaning they are missed in official counts. Our research suggests the true number of women experiencing rough sleeping could be up to ten times higher than government figures show.
• Rough sleeping has long been most visible in inner boroughs like Westminster. But the picture is changing. Street homelessness is rising in outer London, particularly in West London, with boroughs such as Ealing now reporting some of the highest numbers. Housing pressure is no longer confined to the centre; it’s spreading.

Single Homeless Project began in 1975, when six homeless men in London teamed up to create change. They wanted to see an end to rough sleeping and a city where everyone has a safe place to live and the chance for a fulfilling life.

We’ve grown beyond recognition since those early days, but our roots still shape everything we do. They drive our vision of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to thrive.

Today, our expert teams work alongside people to help them stay in their homes, find stability, and rebuild their lives. From moments of crisis to the final steps towards independence and employment, we support more than 10,000 people every year, across all 32 London boroughs.

Homelessness is an experience, not a forever. With the right support, it can be ended.