New street homelessness data from CHAIN for January - March 2023 shows a decrease in the number of people experiencing street homelessness in London since the last quarter, however, the number is higher than for the same period last year. 

There were 3,107 people sleeping rough in London. This represents a 13% decrease compared to the last period (October-December 2022), but a 14% increase compared to the total number recorded between January and March of 2022.

1,490 people were seen sleeping out for the first time, a 12% decrease vs the previous quarter. People newly experiencing rough sleeping account for 48% of all people experiencing street homelessness. People intermittently sleeping rough account for 41%, while those ‘living on the streets’ account for 12%. These proportions are consistent with the previous quarter.

Of those who were new to street homelessness, 76% had no second night out. 22% went on to spend more than one night out, while 2% went on to live on the streets.

The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) is a multi-agency database recording information about people sleeping rough and the wider street population in London. 

It is much more comprehensive than the Government’s annual snapshot count of the number of people sleeping rough on a single night in England. View the full data.

Key points

• The total number of people experiencing street homelessness in London from January to March 2023 was 3,107, according to CHAIN data published last Friday. That is a decrease of 13% from the previous quarter, however, an increase of 14% from the same period in the last year.
• Of those seen experiencing street homelessness in the capital, 1,490 were new to experiencing street homelessness, 376 were living on the streets, and 1,270 were intermittently experiencing street homelessness.
• There was a 17% decrease in the number of people living on the streets compared to the previous quarter (Oct-Dec ‘22). 
• Of those who were new to street homelessness, 76% had no second night out. 22% went on to spend more than one night out, while 2% went on to live on the streets.
• The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) is a multi-agency database recording information about people sleeping rough and the wider street population in London. 
• It is much more comprehensive than the Government’s annual snapshot count of the number of people sleeping rough on a single night in England.