London’s Rough‑Sleeping Crisis Gets a Major Funding Boost
Mayor Sadiq Khan just announced that his city is stepping up the effort to keep homeless residents out of the cold. In the chill of January, 1,282 rough sleepers were moved into emergency beds – that’s a 30 % jump from the same period last year. With temperatures dipping below 0 °C, London has a “Severe Weather Emergency Protocol” (SWEP) that floods the city with extra beds when people need them most.
What’s New?
- No Second Night Out Hub in West London opens in April. Think of it as a reclining sofa for those who just finished night‑long bed‑ding on the streets.
- It’s part of a £17 million, three‑year investment in “No Second Night Out” services run by charity St Mungo’s. The plan is to help roughly 2,000 people a year stay off the pavement.
- Since 2016, the campaign has lifted about 16,000 rough sleepers off the streets – most of them staying out for good.
How Rough‑Sleeping Is Rising
London’s outreach teams had an 8 % bump in help from Oct‑Dec 2023, according to the latest CHAIN stats. “The cost of living, soaring rents, and benefit cuts have turned everyone’s front door into a disaster zone,” says the Mayor. Meanwhile, refugees who’re only given 28 days in asylum housing can’t put the pieces together in that short span. “We’re giving them a hard knock to get moving.”
Last week alone, 400 asylum seekers in Walthamstow were asked to leave temporary accommodation on very short notice. That’s a recipe for mass homelessness.
What the Tories Need to Do
Mayor Khan has asked the national Government to donate £20 million for emergency housing this winter and to pause Home Office evictions when the weather turns brutal.
“These new figures are a wake‑up call for the Government. We’re doing the heavy lifting in London, but the Ministers are turning a blind eye to the national crisis,” Sadiq Khan says.
“I’ll keep working with the boroughs and charities until no one has to face the cold on the pavement.”
Comments from St Mungo’s
Hannah Faulkner, Head of Rough Sleeping Services, says:
“NSNO is lifesaving. Every night spent rough is the last one on the street. With the crisis growing, it’s more vital than ever. St Mungo’s will keep standing with the homeless, no matter what.”
At the end of the day, London’s bold move to triple funding and open new hubs shows that policy can change the game – but it still needs the Government’s ear to finally finish the makeover.
