Statistics show that the number of people sleeping on the streets in London, UK, has reached an all-time high, hitting the 12,000 mark.
Homeless Link, an organization comprising groups supporting homeless individuals in the UK, released statistics regarding those forced to sleep on the streets of London.
As of March this year, approximately 11,993 people were observed sleeping on the streets of London, representing a 58% increase compared to a decade ago. According to AFP, this is the highest number recorded in a single year.
During the 2013-2014 period, the number of people sleeping on the streets of London was 7,581.
This situation is attributed to the cost of living crisis, including high inflation in the UK in 2023 and a shortage of affordable rental housing in recent years.
Rick Henderson, CEO of Homeless Link, has called for a cross-party plan to address the situation following the July 4 election.
Henderson stated that the UK needs more affordable and safe housing, along with the necessary support to “help address the root causes of poverty and prevent people from ending up on the streets.”
Charities and advocates have long urged the UK government to build 90,000 social rental homes each year.
According to Homeless Link’s data, UK citizens account for 45% of those sleeping on the streets. Nearly one-third of those sleeping rough in London come from countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, while about one-quarter are from Europe.
These figures “underscore that the UK government must make efforts to address this crisis,” according to the homelessness charity Crisis.
