Homelessness is on the rise all around the UK. These are the rough sleeping figures and homelessness facts you need to know, reports the Big Issue.

Homelessness is a big issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and the issue has reached critical levels around the country in 2026. The cost of living crisis and the housing crisis in the UK means more people are facing homelessness. It’s an issue that should remain at the forefront of our minds as a society, not just when World Homeless Day comes around on 10 October every year. Despite living in the world’s sixth biggest economy, people are still living with no place to call their home in this country, whether it be sleeping rough, sofa surfing or any other type of homelessness. This injustice must end.

There are ongoing efforts to end homelessness and rough sleeping. Labour has promised to buyild 1.5 million homes and pledged to invest £39bn in building social and affordable homes over the next decade. Meanwhile, a cross-government homelessness strategy was published at the end of 2025. The Scottish government has declared a housing emergency and has an emergency housing action plan to reduce homelessness, particularly among children living in temporary accommodation. The Welsh government is also focusing on more social housing to ease its own homelessness crisis and is introducing new legislation to bring a new “radical” approach to prevention. Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan promised to end rough sleeping in the city by 2030 before his re-election.

But before you can tackle a problem, you must first learn the scale of the issue. That’s why it is vital that we know the facts and figures about homelessness. Here are the numbers you need to know:

How many people are homeless in the UK?

Homelessness in England, Scotland and Wales (as well as Northern Ireland) is typically measured separately but recent analysis by the FT found that one in every 200 households in the UK is experiencing homelessness. That means the UK does not fare well against other developed countries. John Glenton, executive director of care and support at Riverside housing association, said: “Shamefully, the UK tops the global league table with by far the highest rate of homelessness in the developed world with one in 200 households living in emergency temporary housing. It is now crucial to focus on solutions and work with the government to end this national scandal and international embarrassment.”

How many people are homeless in England?

The latest official statistics show 330,410 households were owed support to prevent or relieve homelessness after contacting their council for help in 2024-25. That’s a 0.9% increase on the previous year. Record numbers of households are living in temporary accommodation in England. A total of 132,410 households were living in temporary accommodation as of June 2025 – a record-high and 7.6% higher than a year ago. The total number of children living in temporary accommodation has now reached 172,420. The official rough sleeping snapshot revealed 4,667 people were homeless on England’s streets in autumn 2024 based on single-night counts and estimates by frontline workers and local authorities. That figure represents a 20% increase in just a year and is just 2% lower than the 2017 peak when 4,751 were recorded as sleeping rough. It’s also 164% higher than in 2010 when the count began.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also tracks rough sleeping over the course of a month in England. The data showed 9,574 people were sleeping rough through July 2025. That’s 94% higher than in July 2021 and a new post-pandemic high, according to analysis from the Centre of Social Justice. The London-only Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) figures are considered to be more accurate than the official one-night count. The most recent annual count showed 13,231 rough sleepers spotted on London’s streets between April 2024 and March 2025. That’s record high and a 10% increase on the previous year’s total as well as 63% higher than a decade ago.

How many people are homeless in Wales?

The most recent statistics showed more than 13,287 households needed support from councils due to homelessness between April 2024 and March 2025. A total of 10,876 people were living in temporary accommodation as of September 2025. An annual rough sleeping count has been scrapped in Wales as of 2024, while an estimated 160 people were sleeping rough as of September. The Welsh government is working on new legislation with the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill looking to move towards preventing homelessness.

How many people are homeless in Scotland?

The most recent annual statistics found there were 34,067 households classed as homeless by local authorities in 2024-25, including 38,674 adults and 15,046 children. A total of 17,240 households were living in temporary accommodation in 2024-25, up 6% from 16,330 the previous year. There were 10,180 children in temporary accommodation as of March 2025, down from 10,360 six months earlier.

The Scottish government has declared a housing emergency in the country.

Scotland doesn’t use the same method of counting rough sleeping as England and Wales. Rather than counts and estimates, statisticians rely on reports to local authorities. The number of households that reported sleeping rough the night before applying to local authorities for support rose from 1,932 to 2,465 applications between 2023-24 and 2024-25. Meanwhile, 3,058 households said they were sleeping rough in the three months prior to contacting local authorities for help.

How many women are sleeping rough in the UK?

Women are often missing from rough sleeping counts because they tend to be less visible than male rough sleepers due to the risk of violence on the streets. That means women are more likely to seek shelter in cafes, transport hubs or other places rather than bedding down outside. A coalition of homelessness and women’s organisations in London joined forces to tackle the issue in October 2022. Their first national census across England found the number of people sleeping rough could be as much as 10 times higher than the official rough sleeping count.

How does homelessness affect health?

Poor health can cause homelessness but health worsens when people lose their home. Homeless Link’s Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2025 report found 80% of people experiencing homelessness are dealing with multiple physical health issues. Chronic breathing problems, heart problems and cancer are the most diagnosed, meaning thousands of people are dealing with debilitating conditions while sleeping rough, in hostels or in unsuitable temporary accommodation. Homeless Link found nearly 60% of people experiencing homelessness and ill health receive a physical health diagnosis before becoming homeless, including in conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and traumatic brain injuries.

The research, based on experiences of more than 700 people experiencing homelessness, found half of people sleeping rough said their health had declined over the last 12 months. Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, comments: “This new evidence that we are not preventing people who are already unwell from becoming homeless is utterly devastating. The research makes clear that homelessness is not only a housing problem, but also a health problem.”

What do people think about homelessness?

Four out of five Brits think that homelessness is a serious problem, according to an Ipsos poll for the Centre for Homelessness Impact at the end of 2024. The poll, which quizzed 2,142 people on their views on homelessness, found 70% of those surveyed agreed that homelessness doesn’t get enough attention in society. Most people – around two-thirds – believe that homelessness will increase in the UK over the next 12 months while barely a quarter think homelessness can be ended and twice as many think homelessness is inevitable. But 79% of Brits told pollsters that identifying people who might be at risk of homelessness earlier, such as in health and education, would make a difference.

Ligia Teixeira, chief executive of the Centre for Homelessness Impact, said: “These survey results highlight the pressing need for bold, preventative action to address homelessness…”

How can we end homelessness?

Homelessness is a complex issue and, as a result, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It takes effort to remove the reason why someone is homeless and also treatment for the trauma and mental toll of homelessness. More broadly, there also needs to be efforts to address the systemic drivers of homelessness and that also takes political will to focus the sufficient resources in the areas where they will make a difference. Homelessness experts, charities and organisations propose plenty of changes to how society operates to end homelessness for good.

The Centre for Homelessness Impact trial transferred a lump sum directly into bank accounts but the study showed people spent the cash on furniture, courses and even a second-hand car, reports the Big Issue.

A new trial has handed people experiencing homelessness £2,000 to spend on whatever they want – and what happened next may surprise you. The Centre For Homelessness Impact (CFIH) trial transferred the lump sum directly into the bank accounts of people with recent experience of rough sleeping or staying in temporary accommodation in London and Belfast and attached no conditions to how they spent it. A total of 125 people received the cash while the other 125 taking part receive support from homelessness charities and other services. The goal of the trial – the first of its kind in the UK and emulating a smaller study in Vancouver, Canada – was to see what they would spend the money on.

The final results are expected to be published in 2027 but early observations reveal that participants used the money to help improve their lives. CFIH reported that some bought furniture and household items for new accommodation or paid for clothes or courses to look for work. Others bought a second-hand car to be able to drive their children to school. Ligia Teixeira, chief executive of the Centre for Homelessness Impact, said: “Our cash transfers project is rooted in a straightforward yet powerful belief: when people have direct access to resources, they gain agency over their lives and livelihoods.”

She added: “By challenging outdated assumptions about how support is delivered, we hope to see not just immediate relief but real shifts in economic participation, decision-making and resilience. We need to ask ourselves what is best for all of us in society. Do we continue to invest in an ever growing crisis system or do we give those at risk even better opportunities to self exit?”

While cash transfers are widely used in low and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, there have been fewer programmes that give cash transfers to people affected by homelessness and, until now, none of any scale in the UK. With the cost of homelessness skyrocketing across the UK, CFIH’s trial is looking to evaluate whether direct cash transfers can reduce poverty and boost health as well as participation in society and the economy.

The randomised controlled trial, funded by Citi Foundation and St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, will show the impact on participants’ housing stability one year after they received the money when final results are published in 2027. Researchers will also use surveys to assess any impact on their housing quality and satisfaction, wellbeing, financial security, social connectedness and contact with public services and the criminal justice system.

Initial observations, however, are promising.

One man used some of the money to pay off debts and the remainder to furnish a new home, as he moved out of temporary accommodation. A parent bought a car to be able to drop their children off at school and one participant has used the money to fund driving lessons and hopes to buy a car. Another young man also paid off debts and began researching courses to enable him to find work as a plumber. One woman said that the money came just at the right time, as she was struggling with childcare costs. For a young person who wasn’t able to study at university because they couldn’t afford the fees, the money has given them hope to continue pursuing education. Other items purchased include children’s clothes and Christmas presents, tickets for a first ever holiday abroad and savings to start a business. One woman said the money had come at the perfect time as she was heavily pregnant and had just been offered a move-on property.

Angie Allgood is founder and director of NEWway Project in Newham, East London, which is one of the delivery partners alongside Change Please Foundation, Centrepoint, Lambeth Council and more. Allgood said: “So far, the guests that have received the money have spoken about feeling more optimistic, happier, hopeful and can see a better future. We are excited to see the long term outcomes.” In a pilot phase of the trial, items purchased included sports equipment, a television, a mobile phone, furniture, gym membership, books and clothes.

Housing crisis reaches UK’s oldest generations as high private rents and lack of social housing hits pensioners, reports the Guardian.

The housing crisis has reached the country’s oldest generations, charities have warned, with a growing number of people over the age of 60 seeking help for homelessness. Housing charities said they had seen cases of people over-60 developing health problems from being forced to sleep in their car for months, having to sleep on camp beds in emergency shelters and seeking homelessness support even while suffering illnesses such as cancer.

Marie Dennehy, a senior service manager at St Mungo’s, said they had seen an increase in over-65s, often with complex health problems, coming to them for emergency housing support over the past two years. “We’ve got a guy in the service at the moment who’s 87 – it’s madness,” she said. “We never used to see the number of pensioners we’re seeing now.” She added that council cuts and the lack of social housing meant that single homeless applicants, even those who are elderly, were not being prioritised for properties. “That 87-year-old might not necessarily be seen as priority need because they might say, he’s in perfect health, we’re not going to provide him accommodation. Our argument would be, OK, he’s in perfect health, but he’s also 87. He’s clearly more vulnerable than someone who’s 38,” she said.

Dan Holland, from the Salvation Army’s homelessness services team, said that 10% of people living in the charity’s residential accommodation were over 55, and they were seeing a large number of people in the older age category coming to them for help. “Not as many people now have a mortgage that they’ve paid off and a roof over their head that they can call their own. Lots more people are renting, relying on housing benefit which has been frozen, so it’s not rocket science, eventually they will end up experiencing homelessness,” he said.

One of those was Raymond, 63, who ended up sleeping in his car for seven weeks after becoming homeless following the breakdown of his marriage. He approached the council at least six times for help and was told he was not a priority, before he ended up living at a Salvation Army centre in the north-west. “My legs were bad, they were really swelling up because it was only a small car so I couldn’t stretch my legs. I was sleeping on the seat and my body was just getting in a mess,” he said. “My doctor put me on folate tablets because I couldn’t afford to eat properly. I wasn’t getting any vegetables. I just never got any advice. And I think the trouble with people my age, my generation, we just get on with it, we don’t always reach out. I have no idea what I’m going to do in the future as I’m approaching retirement.”

Holland said services would soon need to start thinking about palliative and end-of-life care for homeless people, as more and more people end up in unstable accommodation in the last months of their lives. “If you are experiencing homelessness and you are naturally coming to the end of your life, or you’ve got a terminal illness – where do you go? That’s a huge issue that I think is definitely on the horizon,” he said.

Research from Crisis found that one in five (17%) older people said they wanted to retire but could not because of their housing costs, while the number of older people facing homelessness in England has risen more than 50% in the past five years. There has also been a 35% increase in the number of over-55s in temporary accommodation since March 2022. Experts said the problem has been exacerbated by the country’s now deeply entrenched housing crisis, which has resulted in home ownership becoming increasingly out of reach and forced people to rent into their later years, leaving them vulnerable to eviction or unsustainable rent increases.

Ben Twomey, the chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Soaring rents were locking people into renting for decades, forcing older people to live in homes unsuitable for their needs and damaging to their health, while pushing some into homelessness.” Edith Gomes Munda, a 61-year-old renter in Huntingdon, said she was increasingly fearful for the future, having been forced to move twice in recent years owing to her landlord selling up and rent rises that she could no longer afford. “It worries me that I may have to move every three or four years, and getting older, there comes a point when everything gets more difficult, more tiring,” she said.

“I’m now 61 and I will get my pension soon but I don’t know if it will cover the rent. I’m healthy enough but how long will I be able to keep working for? I have that on my mind all the time. With the rent increases, you feel like you have to constantly move, you can’t really settle down.” Munda added that she previously was unable to buy a home and now it was too late. “I gave up on that and continued with my life. Now I’m too old, I wouldn’t find a lender when I don’t know how long I can work for. The only other option we have is to apply for social housing, but the waiting lists are so long,” she said.

The government has yet to publish its long-term housing strategy, which has been delayed until March, but experts say prioritising older people is essential. “Even a reformed private rented sector doesn’t really work for older people. We get a lot of calls from people who have had to leave private rented homes as they’re just priced out, and they can’t find anywhere else,” said Lisabel Miles, housing policy manager at Age UK. “There’s going to be a lot of older renters emerging into retirement with real concerns about where they can go.”

The National Plan to End Homelessness has been launched today (11.12.25), and will support the most vulnerable people in our society, reports Gov.Uk.

Today, the government launches a bold new National Plan to End Homelessness to support the most vulnerable in our society to find their feet and improve their lives.  Unveiled today and backed by £3.5 billion of investment, this landmark strategy has been shaped by the voices of those who have experienced homelessness as well as those involved in the Inter-ministerial Group on Homelessness. As the coldest months of the year settle in and Christmas fast approaches, for many, the harsh reality of homelessness becomes harder than ever – whether for someone bedding down on the street, or children struggling in temporary accommodation. Currently a family is being made homeless or threatened with homelessness every five minutes.

The National Plan to End Homelessness has three key pledges to be achieved by the end of this parliament – to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers, end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place. It will be underpinned by clear, ambitious goals for lasting change, including a duty on public services to work together to prevent homelessness, a boost to the supply of good-quality temporary homes, and £3.5 billion – a £1 billion funding boost over and above previous commitments – to support rough sleeping and support services. Today’s announcement follows the Royal Assent of the government’s landmark Renters’ Rights Act, which puts an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions that can often contribute to households finding themselves homeless. Alongside this, the government is investing £39 billion in the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, helping to give more people a secure roof over their head as part of our commitment to build 1.5 million homes.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: ”Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society, because at the heart, it’s about people. Families deserve stability, children need a safe place to grow, and individuals simply want the dignity of a home. This strategy is shaped by the voices of those who’ve lived through homelessness and the frontline workers who fight tirelessly to prevent it. Through our new strategy we can build a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated. With record investment, new duties on public services, and a relentless focus on accountability, we will turn ambition into reality.”

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said:  ”Everyone deserves a roof over their head.  And for those experiencing the worst of homelessness right now – our children – they deserve a place to play and a bedroom to do their homework in. It’s our collective responsibility to make that a reality, for anyone at risk of homelessness, be it sofa-surfing or getting stuck on the streets. By working together including government, local leaders, charities, and communities, we can stop homelessness before it happens and ensure that when people do fall into crisis, support is swift and effective. The prize is big.  Right now, taxpayers are paying the price of failure, with temporary accommodation costs skyrocketing.  And the next generation of British young people can’t succeed without the space they need.  This strategy sets us on a better path – to save money and change lives.”

By the end of this Parliament, the National Plan to End Homelessness will:

• Increase the rate of prevention to protect thousands more households from homelessness. Central to this target is a proposed ‘Duty to Collaborate’, which will be brought forward in legislation for public bodies to work together to prevent homelessness. This builds on cross-government efforts to cut homelessness linked to prisons, social care and hospitals. This strategy sets clear targets on this issue for the first time, including halving the number who become homeless on their first night out of prison and ensuring that no eligible person is discharged to the street after a hospital stay. It also sets a clear long-term ambition that no one should be made homelessness from a public institution.
• Halve the number of people experiencing long-term rough sleeping. For too long, people who have spent years on the streets, often with the most complex needs, have been left with no help. This strategy rewires the system to focus support where it’s needed most. A new £124 million supported housing scheme has been launched to get over 2,500 people across England off the streets and into more stable housing as well as preventing those from getting to the streets in the first place. The Plan also includes a new £15m Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme, which will help councils develop fresh solutions, alongside £37 million of funding for a new Ending Homelessness in Communities programme which will increase support and improve the vital services that are provided by the voluntary, community and faith sector at the frontline of this crisis.
• End the unlawful use of B&Bs for families. This will bring relief to the 2,070 households trapped beyond the six-week limit in unsuitable conditions – often in one room and no cooking facilities. The builds on the commitment in the recently published Child Poverty Strategy, which ensures mothers and newborn babies are not discharged from hospital into this B&B accommodation.

The plan will boost the supply of good-quality temporary homes, backed by £950 million through the Fourth Round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. Our expanded £30 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme will also prevent poor quality emergency accommodation being used. The government will work to improve the quality and suitability of temporary accommodation, enforcing strong protections against poor housing conditions, including out-of-area placements.  An additional £50 million of in-year funding (25/26) is also to be allocated to local authorities through MHCLG’s Homelessness Prevention Grant. This funding is intended to focus on prevention, making sure individuals and households who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness are given the right help to stay in their homes.

Preventing homelessness is everyone’s responsibility and this strategy makes that clear. Every council will now publish a tailored action plan alongside their local homelessness strategy, including setting local targets on key outcomes, with targeted expert support for areas facing the greatest challenges. The government is also calling on Mayors to lead with ambition, backed by new funding to drive collaboration between councils, services, and partners. This is backed by a stripping away of bureaucracy, simplifying funding for councils and ending bidding processes so they can focus on spending money on meeting local needs.

To deliver lasting change, we’re launching a National Workforce Programme to equip frontline teams with essential training and expert advice. Progress will be tracked through national reports, overseen by the Inter-Ministerial Group, ensuring transparency, accountability, and momentum as we work together to end homelessness for good. This strategy is just part of the way government is supporting people to have a safe and secure roof over their head. Taken together, alongside the reforms to the private rented sector and drive to build the homes the country needs, the government is committed putting a stop to the threat of homelessness for families and individuals across the country.

A local landlord has been ordered to pay £14,000 after being prosecuted by Sefton Council for allowing tenants to live in dangerous conditions, reports MySefton News.

After pleading guilty to the charge of exposing his tenants to “the risk of serious harm” in September, Neil McCann appeared at Sefton Magistrates court in Bootle for sentencing last week.

Council officers inspected the property in Crosby, where Mr McCann lets four flats following a complaint from a tenant. This resulted in McCann being a served a schedule of works. However, a further inspection, in October 2024, showed the improvements had not been started and that conditions at the property had worsened.

The Council served a Prohibition Order in respect of one of the flats which had no electricity supply, no working smoke detectors and no front door. The council deemed there to be an imminent risk of serious harm to the health and safety of any occupier or visitor to that flat and as such the landlord should’ve prevented any person from occupying this flat with immediate effect.

Sefton Council served Mr McCann with an improvement notice for the remaining parts of the property. It advised the landlord to deal with identified hazards such as the cold conditions due to the lack of fixed heating, a lack of fire protection, damp and mould and structural collapse.

McCann had until early January 2025, to complete the work but a subsequent inspection that month found that and none of the works listed in the improvement notice had been carried out. Also, one of the flats was occupied despite being subject to a prohibition order.

The failure to implement the Improvement Notice and breach of a Prohibition Order meant the case was heard in court and led to Mr Mcann facing the £14,000 fine plus legal costs.

In February 2025, another Sefton landlord was fined £10,900 for failing to license a rented property after a successful prosecution by Sefton Council. And in December last year, fines totalling £45,000 were imposed on three housing management companies after the Council brought a number of prosecutions. These included managing or being in control of properties without the required Selective Licence.