The Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Research Associate, Tim Gray, assesses how London’s approach to tackling homelessness compares to other global megacities. By comparing pan-approaches, helpful conclusions can be drawn about how large population centres can best address and prevent homelessness by reducing fragmentation and building on success seen around the globe.  

Findings: 

Research shows that London’s efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness are hampered by a fragmented system, where each of London’s 33 local authorities fund and implement services side by side. 

Houston, Texas has seen a 72% drop in rough sleeping and a 51% drop in sheltered homelessness between 2011 and 2023. Here, a single network of providers co-ordinate resources and effort and a single body receives 90% of funding to relieve homelessness. 

London could unlock some of the successes seen across the globe through more effective cross-boundary working. An integrated sub-regional or whole city strategy to end homelessness could reduce friction between London’s boroughs and improve service delivery.

However, the financial cost of tackling homelessness to London boroughs under the current system mitigates against a more joined up approach, because the incentives not to take responsibility for anyone without a clear connection to an individual borough and to compete with other boroughs for the accommodation available, are too great.