Almost 78,000 London children are homeless and spending Christmas in temporary accommodation, according to new research from London Councils.
The cross-party group conducted a survey of London boroughs amid concerns that cost-of-living pressures are worsening the capital’s homelessness crisis.
Drawing on the survey’s findings, London Councils estimates that overall there are 162,000 homeless Londoners living in temporary accommodation – equivalent to the entire population of some smaller boroughs.
London accounts for almost two-thirds of England’s total temporary accommodation population.
The survey also found that more Londoners are turning to their borough for homelessness support. The number of homelessness presentations – when a resident tells their council that they are homeless or threatened with homelessness – were 14.2% higher in October 2022 compared to October 2021.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: ‘These figures must serve as a wake-up call. We need renewed action on tackling homelessness in 2023, including through making better use of the welfare system to help low-income households afford their housing costs and avoid homelessness in the first place.
‘We also need more funding guarantees from the government to sustain boroughs’ homelessness work. This is crucial for achieving our shared objectives on homelessness reduction, and we’re determined to work with ministers in making faster progress on this momentous challenge.’
