Rough sleeping in south west London has risen in the last year despite a 2% drop across the whole capital, new figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) have revealed.
Outreach workers recorded 2,117 people sleeping rough in the region in 2025/26, an increase of 17% from the previous year.
The number is driven by significant increases in the number of people recorded sleeping rough in Hounslow, Lambeth and Croydon.
In May 2025, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, pledged to end rough sleeping in London by 2030.
However, these new figures suggest this goal is a long way off.
Despite the 12,938 rough sleepers recorded in 2025/26 representing a decrease of 2% from the previous year, it is still the second-highest number ever recorded and is 60% higher than 10 years ago.
Glass Door Homeless Charity CEO Jo Carter said: “We shouldn’t give up hope.
“There have been some positive signs in the first few months of this year, and we still believe that ending rough sleeping is achievable.
“But hope must be matched by action. People sleeping rough deserve more than warm words and missed targets. They deserve urgent action, sustained commitment, and the dignity of a safe place to call home.
“At a time of political uncertainty, we cannot afford to lose focus on the housing crisis. With the right policies, investment and determination, we can make London a city where everyone has somewhere to call home and where no one is left with the street as their only option.”
SPEAR is a homelessness charity operating across Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth, Sutton and Merton, which helped 750 people experiencing homelessness in the last year.
The charity’s director of operations, Mark Taylor, said: “It is well established that a shortage of affordable housing and increases in rent and mortgage payments contribute to increases in homelessness.
“While it’s positive to see some improvements in this year’s figures, the long-term trend shows just how significant the challenge remains.”
SPEAR believes there needs to be a sustained investment in prevention, focusing on earlier support for people at risk alongside an increase in affordable housing.
Taylor said: “SPEAR works with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to find a place to call home and provides a range of services to improve their health, wellbeing and skills. But to end homelessness for good, we need more genuinely affordable homes.”
In Hounslow, 53% more people were recorded sleeping rough than in the previous year, which is by far the highest increase of any London Borough.
Hounslow Council was approached for comment.
Meanwhile Sutton recorded the fewest rough sleepers of any London Borough.
CHAIN is a multi-agency database commissioned and funded by the Greater London Authority and managed by Homeless Link, it is the most detailed and comprehensive source of information about rough sleeping.
Fiona Colly, Homeless Link’s director of social change, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see that fewer people have had to experience the trauma of sleeping rough on the streets of London this year.
“This literally translates to lives being saved.
“It is critical that the Government adequately funds the vital services that provide a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable people.”
Feature image: Free to use from Unsplash
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