The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a bold new strategy to tackle rough sleeping across the capital, pledging to break the “vicious cycle” of street homelessness with a prevention-first approach.
In a significant policy shift, the Mayor’s new plan removes the requirement for individuals to be visibly sleeping rough before they can access support. Instead, services will proactively identify and assist those at risk, offering tailored interventions before they reach crisis point.
This transformative strategy builds on successful pilot schemes and is backed by a record £17 million in capital funding from the UK Government. The funding will expand the Mayor’s flagship Homes off the Streets programme, refurbishing up to 500 empty homes to provide immediate accommodation for those at risk.
Key Measures in the Mayor’s New Plan:
- Refurbishment of 500 empty homes to house those at immediate risk of rough sleeping.
- Creation of a new network of Ending Homelessness Hubs across London.
- Launch of a rough sleeping prevention phone line to offer early support.
- Deployment of support workers and volunteers in community spaces like food banks and day centres.
Commenting on the rough sleeping crisis in London, Khan said:
“Londoners care deeply about the plight of those that are forced to sleep rough on our streets. But they feel powerless at the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding around them. And it’s not surprising.183,000 Londoners are now estimated to be homeless. Rough sleeping has risen 58 per cent in the last decade. And one in every 21 children in our city is now living in temporary accommodation.
“…We’re trapped in a vicious cycle. Rising numbers of people sleeping rough have led to overstretched services, that are forced to prioritise short-term crisis management over long-term prevention - which, while helping thousands of individuals in a time of need, doesn’t tackle the root causes or turn the tide on rising homelessness.”
Despite a fivefold increase in City Hall’s rough sleeping budget since 2016 – now standing at £44.8 million for 2025/26 – too many Londoners still fall through the cracks. The Mayor’s new approach aims to reverse this trend by focusing on early intervention, sustainable housing solutions, and specialist services for vulnerable groups, including those with complex needs or uncertain immigration status.
Since taking office, the Mayor’s initiatives have helped over 18,000 people off the streets, with 75% remaining housed long-term. This new plan aims to build on that success and support the national goal of ending homelessness for good.
Image credit: iStock
