Cost of living crisis sees 21% increase in rough sleeping
New figures have revealed that the number of people rough sleeping on London’s streets has skyrocketed by more than 20 per cent in the last year.
Statistics released by City Hall from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network show that between April 2022 and the end of September 2022, 5,712 people were seen sleeping rough in the capital – an increase of 21 per cent on the same period last year.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged the Government to take immediate action to tackle the cost of living crisis as rising bills and housing costs force growing numbers of people to sleep rough.
Reports from those within the homeless sector suggest this rise is in part due to cost of living pressures.
The rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose rapidly in the first half of 2022 to 10 per cent in July.
The cost of renting has also risen dramatically – analysis from Hometrack suggests that annual London rental inflation had risen to almost 18 per cent by July.
Households are also likely to face further financial challenges in the coming months from higher energy bills and borrowing costs.
(Picture: Pixabay/ArtTower)
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