Rough Sleeping

Homelessness facts and statistics: The numbers you need to know in 2026
Homelessness

Homelessness facts and statistics: The numbers you need to know in 2026

Homelessness is on the rise all around the UK. These are the rough sleeping figures and homelessness facts you need to know
'Andy Burnham is right to make ending rough sleeping his first priority. Now comes the hard part'
Prime minister Andy Burnham arrives at 10 Downing Street
Paula Barker

'Andy Burnham is right to make ending rough sleeping his first priority. Now comes the hard part'

How one woman's arrest helped to scrap the Vagrancy Act and decriminalise rough sleeping
Campaigner Kerri Douglas
homelessness

How one woman's arrest helped to scrap the Vagrancy Act and decriminalise rough sleeping

New prime minister Andy Burnham starts with vow to end rough sleeping. Here's how he aims to do it
Housing

New prime minister Andy Burnham starts with vow to end rough sleeping. Here's how he aims to do it

Homelessness could rise by 25% by the end of the decade. Here's how Andy Burnham can take action
Housing

Homelessness could rise by 25% by the end of the decade. Here's how Andy Burnham can take action

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Revealed: Homeless people face 'postcode lottery' of support leaving them at risk in heatwaves
a homeless man in hot weather
Investigation

Revealed: Homeless people face 'postcode lottery' of support leaving them at risk in heatwaves

I work in probation. What meeting a homeless man on the street taught me about second chances
Probation Service's Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards

I work in probation. What meeting a homeless man on the street taught me about second chances

The number of people homeless on London’s streets fell last year: ‘Positive change is possible’
a homeless man lying down sleeping rough on the street
Housing

The number of people homeless on London’s streets fell last year: ‘Positive change is possible’

Rough sleeping finally decriminalised after 200 years: ‘Homeless people are not criminals’
a person rough sleeping on a wall
Housing

Rough sleeping finally decriminalised after 200 years: ‘Homeless people are not criminals’

Vagrancy Act: Labour promised to decriminalise rough sleeping in spring – so when will it happen?
a homeless person on the street
Criminal justice

Vagrancy Act: Labour promised to decriminalise rough sleeping in spring – so when will it happen?

When the Vagrancy Act is finally gone, its replacement must be driven by compassion
a mamkeshift bed outside a home where someone may sleep rough
Steven MacKenzie

When the Vagrancy Act is finally gone, its replacement must be driven by compassion

Refugee homelessness set to surge once more as asylum backlog falls, experts warn
a person sleeping rough on the street
Homelessness

Refugee homelessness set to surge once more as asylum backlog falls, experts warn

Thousands of women are being missed while homeless on the streets: 'I was afraid to sleep'
a woman walking at night
homelessness

Thousands of women are being missed while homeless on the streets: 'I was afraid to sleep'

Rough sleeping is deadly. We meet the NHS outreach workers trying to save lives on the street
An NHS mural on a pavement
Health

Rough sleeping is deadly. We meet the NHS outreach workers trying to save lives on the street

Homelessness remains at crisis point so we’re funding local solutions to fix it
a homeless man sleeping rough
Duncan Shrubsole

Homelessness remains at crisis point so we’re funding local solutions to fix it

Boost for Sadiq Khan as rough sleeping in London plummets: 'Now build on it'
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
Homelessness

Boost for Sadiq Khan as rough sleeping in London plummets: 'Now build on it'

Home Office pilot saved 1,000 refugee families from homelessness. Then rules changed
a man with a Refugees Welcome sign in his backpack
Immigration

Home Office pilot saved 1,000 refugee families from homelessness. Then rules changed

Channel 4’s Handcuffed shows the stark realities of homelessness can move anyone, even millionaires
Millionaire Anthony and barmaid Tilly handcuffed together on Channel 4's Handcuffed
TV

Channel 4’s Handcuffed shows the stark realities of homelessness can move anyone, even millionaires

Revealed: Homeless people offered chairs not beds by councils in extreme weather
a person sleeping rough in a doorway
Homelessness

Revealed: Homeless people offered chairs not beds by councils in extreme weather

How Eastbourne became the face of England's temporary accommodation crisis
Eastbourne councillor Peter Diplock outside The Salvation Army
Homelessness

How Eastbourne became the face of England's temporary accommodation crisis

Record-high number of people sleeping rough in England amid warning kids left homeless on streets
a homeless man sleeping rough
Homelessness

Record-high number of people sleeping rough in England amid warning kids left homeless on streets

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Rough sleeping in London hits new record high – showing 'normalised emergency' on capital's streets
a man sleeping rough on the street
Rough sleeping

Rough sleeping in London hits new record high – showing 'normalised emergency' on capital's streets

How 2026 can mark the beginning of the end for rough sleeping
a homeless man lying down sleeping rough on the street
Emma Haddad

How 2026 can mark the beginning of the end for rough sleeping

Inside the unique project tackling homelessness as a community: 'We should have one in every town'
Harbour Project resident Darren Rowe
Homelessness

Inside the unique project tackling homelessness as a community: 'We should have one in every town'

Dismantling of London tent village sparks fears over what happened to people who lived there
The empty space where a homelessness encampment used to stand near Adelphi Terrace on the Strand in Westminster
Homelessness

Dismantling of London tent village sparks fears over what happened to people who lived there