New figures this morning show that 3,570 people were sleep deprived in London between October and December last year, up 21% from the same quarter last year (October to December 2021).
From October to December 2022, young people will make up 8% of all oversleepers in London.
– 297 young people have been spotted having trouble sleeping between October and December 2022, representing 8% of the total number of people with trouble sleeping in London.
– 29% more young people are sleeping soundly compared to the same quarter last year (October to December 2021), up from 231 to 297 this year. It is also up 4% from the previous quarter (July-September 2022). This is a 3% increase from pre-pandemic levels (287 cases from October to December 2019).
– Between October and December 2022, 3,570 people of all ages in London had a rough sleep, a 21% increase compared to 2,949 people of all ages in the same period last year.
Alicia Walker, Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns at Centrepoint, said:
“If governments continue to ignore the root causes of homelessness, more and more people will be forced to sleep rough.
“We are hearing from helplines that rising rents, bills and other costs are pushing young people into a spiral of financial hardship and homelessness. Often these young people have no safety net and nowhere to go. Because of this, you may be forced to sleep rough in the middle of this dangerously cold winter.
“Last week, the mayor announced funding for housing with up to 800 sleepers, including accommodation for the most vulnerable youth in the capital. It can go a long way in helping those in need, but what local governments and charities can do is only if demand continues to outstrip supply. So governments must take action and find ways to stop people from becoming homeless in the first place.”
