Record number of rough sleepers in England last year, official figures show

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Patrick Butler Social policy editorFebruary 26, 2026 at 04:44 PM

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Official figures show rough sleeping in England reached a record high in 2025, with an estimated 4,793 people sleeping on the streets on a single night in autumn. This marks a 3% increase from the previous year and surpasses the 2017 peak. The number of children in homeless families living in temporary accommodation also reached a record high of 175,990. Charities attribute the rise to high private sector rents and a lack of social housing, with some estimating the actual number of rough sleepers to be much higher than official figures. While rough sleeping decreased during the pandemic due to the "Everybody In" initiative, numbers have been rising since 2021. The government has launched a strategy to halve rough sleeping and announced a £50m fund to support homelessness charities.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United Kingdom 40% Labour government 50% Matt Downie 60% Sarah Elliott 60% Joanna Elson 60% Shelter 70% Independent Age ×270% Crisis ×280%

Keywords

rough sleeping 100% homelessness 90% temporary accommodation 70% social housing 60% private sector rents 60% housing benefit 50% government action 50% renters’ rights act 40% austerity 40%