THE number of homeless people in London over the three months leading to Christmas rose by more than a quarter compared to the previous year, it was revealed today.

A total of 4,612 people were recorded sleeping rough in the capital between October and December, a 5 per cent increase from the same period in 2023.

Nearly half were new rough sleepers, while 41 per cent were classified as intermittent rough sleepers.

About one in 10 were deemed to be living on the streets.

The number of people living on the streets increased by 26 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 and was 3 per cent higher than in July-September last year.

While slightly down from the record 4,780 rough sleepers reported in the previous quarter, the latest figures mark the second highest on record.

Homeless Link chief executive Rick Henderson said that “thousands of lives are being ruined” due to overstretched support services and called for a national homelessness strategy focused on prevention rather than crisis management.

St Mungo’s chief executive Emma Haddad echoed the need for systemic change.

She said: “A homelessness system focused on prevention means no-one released from prison or hospital or care onto the streets; no-one evicted from their accommodation because the landlord wants to double the rent; no-one unable to find anywhere affordable to live because housing benefit has been frozen.”

A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan blamed the crisis on the previous government.

Mr Khan has announced a £10 million investment – the largest ever by a London mayor – to expand homelessness hubs across the city.

The government also tripled rough sleeping funding for England earlier this month, to £30m.