THERE ARE AT LEAST 354,000
HOMELESS PEOPLE IN ENGLAND
This includes those in temporary accommodation, living in hostels, or sleeping rough. Rough sleeping, a visible form of homelessness, saw an increase of 20% in the latest count.
As of October 2024, an estimated 4,667 people are sleeping on the streets each night, despite significant national government attempts to curb this practice over the past 15 years. This represents an increase of 164% over the 2010 forecasts and 20% above the 2023 estimate. London and southern England have the highest rates of rough sleeping (28% of the 2024 total).
Rough sleeping refers to people who are about to bed down in the open air be a in on the streets or in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or vacant buildings.
Rough sleeping is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness. vulnerable individuals can be introduced and subjected to habit forming alcohol and substance abuse as well as physical, psychological and sexual harassment and violence.
Often this can be the very reason they have found themselves on the streets in the first place and without early intervention an individuals ability to make positive changes and choices in their lives is soon out of reach.
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In 2021, an estimated 741 homeless people died in England and Wales. Men accounted for 87% of the deaths.
Most deaths recorded were due to drug-related poisoning, suicide and alcohol-specific causes.
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