‘Shocking’ rise in rough sleepers follow homeless charities’ warnings

The number of rough sleepers in Croydon has risen by almost 40 per cent in just one year,new data has revealed.

The Rough Sleeping in London report, released by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) on April 30, showed a 39 per cent increase – from 89 to 124 cases – in rough sleeping in Croydon between January and March 2023 and January and March 2024.

In Southwark, rates were up by 38 per cent, from 117 to 162 cases, and in Lambeth by four per cent, from 157 to 163 cases, from the same period.

The rise of rough sleepers in Croydon and Southwark was above the capital’s average increase of 33 per cent.

Ross Watkins, partnership manager for homeless charity Emmaus SLC, which covers Croydon and Lambeth, said: “We were shocked. Our charity is currently full to capacity, and I know that other homelessness organisations are in the same position.”

Across London, 2,038 people were forced to sleep rough for the first time – a 37 per cent increase on the same period last year, and the biggest year-on-year rise of people new to the streets since the pandemic.

Homelessness charities have attributed the rise in rough sleeping to a number of factors, including the cost-of-living crisis, ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions and a lack of affordable housing.

In November 2023, Mr Watkins spoke to the South London Press about how changes in refugee policy could create a “crisis” in homelessness, particularly in Croydon, which had 400 asylum seekers in hotels.

In Feburary 2023, the Government announced a streamlined asylum processing system to fast track applications for people seeking asylum from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iran and Iraq.

Then in September 2023, the Government made further changes to the process for newly-recognised refugees, meaning that people granted refugee status would have just seven days’ notice to leave their accommodation that had been provided by the asylum service.

Asylum seekers do not have the right to work in the UK, making it virtually impossible to secure housing and financial support.

Mr Watkins said: “The new figures don’t show the number of refugees, but homelessness for three of the seven nationalities that were fast tracked has gone up between 100 and 200 per cent.”

CHAIN data shows a 272 per cent increase in rough sleeping for Afghans in London between 2023 and 2024, from 18 to 67 cases. 

Eritreans and Iranians saw a 164 per cent and 130 per cent rise respectively, jumping from 82 to 216 cases for Eritreans and 23 to 53 cases for Iranians. There are no categories for Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq.

Mr Watkins said: “They are vulnerable to becoming homeless and destitute, with no means of self funding and are relying on homeless services for food and accommodation.”

In light of these figures, Mr Watkins said getting people help as quickly as possible was “vitally important”.

He said: “Using The Street Link to alert local teams to where someone is located can help keep them safe. Whenever possible, ask for the person’s consent before you do so.”

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman said: “We are spending an unprecedented £2.4billion to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.

“This is alongside our cash injection of over £191million to London boroughs over three years, supplying hundreds of beds and specialist support for the most vulnerable.

“We have given £4billion to the GLA to deliver more than 147,400 new affordable homes since 2010.”

A spokeswoman from Croydon council said: “Like other London boroughs and nationally, Croydon has seen an increase in rough sleeping. We are working on a number of measures to prevent rough sleeping and safely help residents off the streets. More than 50 per cent of the rough sleepers we engage with do not spend a second night on the streets or return to the streets owing to our interventions to provide safe accommodation – this is higher than any other London borough.

“While the January-March statistics from CHAIN showed a 39 per cent increase in rough sleeping, the annual data recorded a 17 per cent rise. We are working to reduce this figure and are developing a new homelessness and rough sleeper strategy to prevent and relieve homelessness over the next five years.”

If you find someone sleeping rough who needs help, visit The Street Link via their website at https://thestreetlink.org.uk/

(Picture: Pixabay/Kev)