Latest statistics show worrying rise in rough sleeping
CHAIN statistics for July – September 2018 show a sharp increase in rough sleeping in London
The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) statistics for the period 1 July – 30 September 2018 show a worrying rise in the number of people sleeping rough in London, with a 17% rise on the same period last year and a 20% rise on the preceding quarter.
There has been a very concerning rise in the number of people new to the streets. The number of new rough sleepers has risen 28% on the preceding quarter and 20% on the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the number of people sleeping on the streets for intermittent periods is 22% higher than during the same quarter in 2017.
The latest statistics also show a small rise in the number of people from Central and Eastern Europe sleeping rough. Thames Reach remains very concerned about this group who now represent 28% of the total number of rough sleepers in London. This group often have very limited options.
Thames Reach chief executive Bill Tidnam said: ‘We hope that the new initiatives being developed by central government and the Greater London Authority, working alongside local authorities, will soon begin to make a difference to these figures, ensuring that anyone sleeping rough gets the help they need to leave the streets quicker and stay off them for good.’