The number of people sleeping rough in London has risen for the third year in a row, with MPs branding the figures a “stain on our nation’s conscience”.
There were 964 rough sleepers in the capital in autumn last year, up from 940 during the same period in 2015 — an increase of three per cent.
Westminster has the most rough sleepers in the country — 260. Nationally, 4,134 people were sleeping rough, up by 565 — 16 per cent — from 3,569 the previous year. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “It is disgusting. The Government should hang its head in shame. It is a stain on our nation’s conscience.”
Shadow housing secretary John Healey said: “The number sleeping rough has more than doubled since 2010.
“This is a result of decisions made by Conservative ministers: a drop in investment for affordable homes, cuts to housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services and a refusal to help private renters.”
Brighton and Hove had the second most people on the streets, at 144, with Luton, Croydon and Redbridge also in the top 10.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said: “We are investing £550 million to 2020 to tackle homelessness.”
On Friday MPs will debate a Bill re-quiring councils to prevent homelessness for all who need help within 56 days. Currently, councils are only ob-liged to help those in “priority need”.
