Launch of the Young People’s Rough Sleeping Census, World Homeless Day
Our new pilot study, launched on World Homeless Day (10 October 2024), has revealed striking insights into the young people who sleep rough in London.
The Young People’s Rough Sleeping Census, carried out by Depaul UK with the support of London Councils, focuses on three boroughs, Camden, Lambeth, and Bromley, and spoke to young people aged 18-25 who have slept rough at least once in the past three months.
The survey defined rough sleeping as Nowhere safe to go at night, or nowhere to go at all. This included sleeping outside on the ground or in a tent, in stairwells or somewhere else that is hidden; sitting or sleeping in places that are open late or 24/7 (such as all-night restaurants); or on transport; or walking around all night.
The key research findings were:
Homelessness in London is currently at a record high with 4,118 people recorded as sleeping rough in London for the first three months of 2024. This is a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2023. What’s even more shocking is that 2,038 of those people experienced homelessness for the first time.
Lack of affordable accommodation, the high costs of emergency accommodation for local authorities, changes to Home Office policy, and housing benefits not keeping up with rents have all exacerbated the problem.
The fact that 28% of respondents did not appear in official statistics suggests that homelessness in the capital is much more prevalent than is currently being reported; and the high number of young refugees leaving asylum accommodation with nowhere to go starkly highlights a lack of targeted support for this group.
Alexia Murphy, Chief Executive at Depaul UK said:
“This census reveals the hidden reality of youth homelessness in London and uncovers some critical gaps in our understanding of how young people become homeless. The findings emphasise the urgent need for targeted prevention, greater support and early intervention for young people who are at risk of sleeping rough, including those from minority backgrounds.
“This pilot census marks a significant step forward in understanding youth homelessness and will help to inform future services aimed at addressing the complex issues surrounding youth homelessness.”
Alex Szorad, a Housing Advisor at Depaul UK said:
“These results haven’t surprised me, as my team and I are on the front line dealing with these issues daily. Over the last month alone, we’ve seen people scared of gang crime, someone suffering from domestic abuse, refugees who have been made homeless because of inadequate support, college and university students with no recourse to benefits, or young people who have fled home because of a family relationship breakdown. Local authorities across the country are buckling at their knees, and homelessness services across the country are at risk of closure due to lack of funding.”
Alex added: “Like many charities in the sector, we’re ready to work with the government to ensure that people don’t end up on the street. But the government must urgently address the immediate situation we’re facing. Otherwise, young people now, who will live their whole youth in insecure housing, will be affected for the rest of their lives.”
Depaul UK hopes to use the learnings from the pilot to carry out a pan-London census in the future.
You can read the full report here.
