The number of rough sleepers in east London has risen by more than 70%, new figures show.
There were 121 rough sleepers in east London in autumn 2022, compared to 70 in autumn 2021 – a rise of 73%.
The figures are a snapshot of rough sleeping on a single night between October 1 and November 30 2022, and have been published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.
The east London borough with the highest number of rough sleepers was Newham at 30 people.
But there has been a fivefold increase in the number of rough sleepers in Waltham Forest, rising from 5 people in 2021 to 27 people in 2022.
Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest all saw increases in the number of rough sleepers on their streets.
In east London, only Tower Hamlets saw fewer rough sleepers in 2022 compared to 2021, with the number falling from 28 people to 21 people.
Across London, there were 858 people in 2022 estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night compared with 640 people in 2021, an increase of 218 people (34%).
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the rise in people sleeping rough on London’s streets as “extremely alarming and further evidence of the devastating fallout from the cost-of-living crisis”.
He said: “It is high time ministers got a grip on the escalating food, energy and housing crises and restored the social security safety net which helps stop people becoming trapped in a cycle of homelessness.”
Nationwide, the survey found 3,069 people sleeping rough, up 626 (26%) on the equivalent total for 2021 and nearly three-quarters (74%) above the level in 2010 when the figures began.
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “Over half a million households have been prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation since 2018 and rough sleeping remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
“But we know there is more to do to help families at risk of losing their homes and to end rough sleeping for good.
“That’s why we will be abolishing Section 21 [no-fault] evictions and are investing £2 billion over three years to tackle the issue allocated to areas with the greatest need.
“This includes financial support for people to find a new home, working with landlords to prevent evictions or providing temporary accommodation, among other preventative measures.
“Councils have a duty to ensure families are not left without a roof over their head.”
Here is a list of the number of rough sleepers in east London in autumn 2022 by local authority.
The list is ordered alphabetically and reads, from left to right: name of local authority; number of rough sleepers in autumn 2022; number of rough sleepers in autumn 2021; year-on-year numerical change:
- Barking and Dagenham 11 (3) +8
- Havering 5 (2) +3
- Newham 30 (17) +13
- Redbridge 27 (15) +12
- Tower Hamlets 21 (28) -7
- Waltham Forest 27 (5) +22
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