London's homelessness amongst youth is escalating at an alarming rate
In recent times, London has witnessed a significant increase in youth homelessness. According to reports by London Councils, Depaul UK, and Centrepoint, the city is grappling with an escalating homelessness problem among its young residents.
The latest statistics reveal a record high of 13,231 people sleeping rough in London between April 2024 and March 2025, representing a 10% increase compared to previous years. Among these, a 25% increase was observed among young people, with 368 being seen sleeping rough in London between April and June 2025.
Poverty levels after housing costs remain particularly high among youth in London. About 41% of 15-19 year olds live in households in poverty, the highest rate among all age groups in the city. This contributes to increased vulnerability and risk of homelessness.
The broader context includes housing affordability pressures. Over 650,000 London renters experience rent burdens, which exacerbates the risk of homelessness among young people.
Organisations such as Depaul UK and Centrepoint have highlighted this situation as a real crisis, urging for integrated efforts including social housing development and homelessness prevention strategies to tackle the problem.
Moreover, the report suggests that more young people are sleeping on the streets than official figures indicate, with over a quarter (28%) of those surveyed having slept rough in London but not being recorded in official data.
Alexia Murphy, Depaul UK's chief executive, emphasised the urgent need for targeted prevention, greater support, and early intervention for young people at risk of homelessness, including those from minority backgrounds. Cllr Williams, London Council's executive member for housing & regeneration, agreed, stating that the research paints a grim picture of life on the streets for many young people in London.
The most common type of housing young people had left before becoming homeless was asylum accommodation. Cllr Williams also added that with many young people previously being in asylum accommodation before becoming homeless, this remains a significant challenge for reducing rough sleeping in the capital.
The first three months of 2023 saw a peak in homelessness in London, with 4,118 people recorded as sleeping rough. The report, led by charity Depaul UK, focuses on 18-25-year-olds who experienced rough sleeping in several London boroughs. It also shows that 15% of young people were under 18 when they first experienced rough sleeping.
In light of these findings, boroughs will continue working with the Mayor of London and the government to tackle this issue and prevent rough sleeping from occurring in the first place. The need for homelessness support to reflect all Londoners' needs, particularly young people experiencing homelessness who face unique challenges, has never been more pressing.
The escalating homelessness problem among young London residents, as seen in the record high of 13,231 people sleeping rough in London, necessitates integrated efforts such as social housing development and prevention strategies. Home-and-garden organizations like Depaul UK and Centrepoint have stressed the urgent need for targeted prevention, greater support, and early intervention, particularly for young people from minority backgrounds. The report reveals that many young people who became homeless were previously in asylum accommodation, highlighting this as a significant challenge in reducing rough sleeping in London.
