Drop is first since 2017 excluding covid year, but figure still 60% higher than a decade ago
The numbers of people seen by outreach workers sleeping rough in London has fallen year-on-year.
The latest data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows 12,938 were seen rough sleeping in 2025/26, down 2% on the 13,231 recorded the previous year.
The reduction is the first annual drop in figures since 2017, excluding a temporarily sharp decrease in 2021/22 due largely to additional Covid-19 resources.
However the figure for 2025/26 is still 60% higher than the 8,108 seen rough sleeping 10 years ago in 2016/17.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the two per cent reduction in rough sleepers “is clear movement in the right direction” and said it shows Sadiq Khan’s ‘Rough Sleeping Plan of Action’ is having an impact.
Under the plan, backed by a £44m rough sleeping budget, the mayor has pledged to work with partners to focus on homelessness prevention.
The mayor has pledged to refurbish up to 500 new empty homes and open ‘ending homelessness hubs’.
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