The number of homeless young people in London is at a record high but is likely to be much higher than official figures suggest, a homelessness charity has warned.
A pilot study focused on 18–25-year-olds in Camden, Lambeth, and Bromley found 28% of respondents were not included in the quarterly figures released by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN).
Carried out by Depaul UK, the Young People’s Rough Sleeping Census also found that 80% identified as non-White and 44% said they had slept rough for more than 30 nights during the three months prior to the data being collected.
The most common type of housing young people had left before becoming homeless was asylum accommodation.
Over 4,000 people were recorded as sleeping rough in the capital for the first three months of 2024 – a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Regeneration, said the survey ‘paints a grim picture’ of youth homelessness in the capital.
‘With so many of these young people previously being in asylum accommodation before becoming homeless, it is clear this remains a significant challenge for reducing rough sleeping in the capital.’
