BRITAIN’S homelessness shame deepened today after the number of known rough sleepers in London rose by almost a fifth in a year.

The total of 4,780 people, counted on the capital’s streets between July and September, is the highest ever recorded by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) statistics since its quarterly records began in 2009.

The latest count, commissioned by the London Mayor’s Office, is a year-on-year increase of 18 per cent  and is up 13 per cent from 4,223 compared to the period between April and June 2024.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, the national membership body for front-line homelessness services, said: “This shameful upward trend cannot be allowed to continue. The new Labour government can and must act to put an end to rough sleeping.

“The Budget pledged additional funding for homelessness and rough sleeping over the next financial year, but we urgently need clarity on how this and existing funding will be allocated.”

Crisis chief executive Matt Downie added: “Ministers have made some really promising commitments, including more money for councils and funding for new social and affordable homes, yet this latest data is a stark reminder that we also need a coherent, long-term plan.”

The Budget, delivered on Wednesday, provided £233 million of additional spending in 2025-26 to prevent homelessness across local authorities in England, which the Treasury said will take total spending to £1 billion that year.

“This will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping,” the Budget document stated.

A day earlier, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a £4.8m investment to support people previously sleeping rough.