Rough sleeping in the Square Mile nearly doubled last autumn
The number of rough sleepers in the Square Mile rose to 67 during autumn last year, up 86 per cent on the year before.
A new government report found the City of London to have the ninth-highest number of people sleeping in the open air of any local authority in England.
Local councillor Tijs Broeke described the rise as “very worrying”.
There were 31 more rough sleepers in the City during October and November 2018 than across the same period in 2017.
Due to low housing density, it meant the Square Mile had the highest reported rate of rough sleeping by a significant margin, with an effective ratio of 189.6 rough sleepers per 10,000 households.
Rough sleepers – people sleeping or bedding down down in open air locations and other locations such as tents, cars, and makeshift shelters – make up a subsection of the overall homeless population, which also includes groups such as those living in temporary accommodation.
The report said its data, based on estimates made by local authorities, was not “definitive”.
Broeke, deputy chairman of the City’s homelessness and rough sleeping sub-committee, said the figures “confirm what many charity and health care workers already know.”
“More and more people are forced to sleep rough on the streets of London,” he said. “Indeed, rough sleeping is something often mentioned by local residents and City workers who are extremely concerned.”
“The City Corporation together with partners such as St Mungo’s has already taken extra steps to prevent rough sleeping, such organising temporary support hubs, provide extra funding for services, support a pan-London approach and looking at ways to tackle the underlying causes of rough sleeping and homelessness. But many City councillors like myself believe more can and should be done to help people find a path out of a life on the streets.”
“This means looking into accommodating a permanent support hub in the Square Mile, strengthen our pan-London commitments and support a cross agency approach. We should also repeal the 1824 Vagrancy Act to stop criminalisation of vulnerable people who need our support, not a criminal record.”
He encouraged anyone wanting to help a person sleeping rough to use the Street Link support service.
“With these freezing temperatures emergency shelters are in place across London, and I would urge everyone who sees a rough sleeper to alert Street Link who can coordinate help,” he said.
Read more: Crime in the Square Mile hits a three-year high
A City Corporation spokesperson said: “The Square Mile, like many local authority areas, has seen an increase in rough sleeping in recent months. This includes a greater proportion of rough sleepers who are new to the street.
“We are helping more people than ever before. With our partners we are supporting rough sleepers into long term accommodation, and providing access to mental health services, GP registrations and dental care.
“Our new assessment hub service builds on our existing support, offering emergency accommodation and providing assistance that best matches the needs of homeless people in the Square Mile.”
They said the Corporation is “absolutely committed to addressing the root causes of homelessness”.