By Eniola Amadu
Councils across London will receive £36.5m in government funding to help combat homelessness this winter, amid record numbers of people and families living without stable housing.
According to London Councils, one in 50 Londoners is homeless, with a growing number of children now in temporary accommodation.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the new funding would target both rough sleeping and families facing homelessness.
Claire Holland, chair of London Councils, said the support was “critical” to tackling “London’s homelessness crisis”.
The capital will receive the largest share of an £84m package being distributed to local authorities across England.
Of the £36.5m earmarked, £28.4m will go toward measures to prevent rough sleeping, £7.1m will support families in temporary accommodation, and £960,000 will fund drug and alcohol treatment for people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness.
Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the announcement, saying it would strengthen the city’s “Rough Sleeping Action Plan” and joint efforts with local councils to prevent people from becoming homeless.
“I have always been clear that no one should have to sleep rough on our streets,” Khan said.
“I will continue to work closely with the government and partners to ensure those most in need receive the support they deserve.”
Homelessness charity Crisis described the funding as “very welcome” ahead of the cold season but urged the government to adopt a long-term approach.
Chief Executive Matt Downie warned that “more people are likely to face the prospect of sleeping on cold streets,” and that many parents would continue “helping their children do homework from cramped and draughty temporary accommodation.”
A MHCLG spokesperson said the new funds would build on existing schemes, including a £950m initiative to boost the supply of “good temporary accommodation.”
London boroughs are currently spending £5.5m per day on homelessness services, with almost £5m of that going toward temporary housing for families, according to London Councils.
The announcement follows new data from the Museum of Homelessness showing that a record number of people — more than 1,100 in England — died while homeless in 2024, marking a 16 per cent increase from the previous year and accounted for 326 of those deaths.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said the figures underscored the need for urgent action.
“Homelessness has been too high for too long,” she said. “We are taking action in London and across the country so every community feels the impact of our Plan for Change.”
