How many people are homeless?

The answer to this question is not straight forwards! The numbers of people currently homeless or at risk of homelessness are constantly changing. It is important to be clear about what definition of homelessness is being used.

Every year the government requires every local authority to count how many people are sleeping rough on a particular night. Homeless Link works with local authorities to verify these counts.

The latest count, in November 2022 found that 3069 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a typical night. Homeless Link's response to the latest figures is here.

You can read more about the methodology for these counts here.

This data is most useful for showing trends about increases and decreases each year. You can explore the official data at a local level and trends over time on this government webiste.

In the previous "what is homelessness" page we discussed how rough sleeping is only one visible form of homelessness. It is worth noting that in March 2020 when it came to getting everyone in because of COVID, 33,000 people were identified. Often people without homes are hidden from regular data, because they are sofa surfing or sleeping in cars. 

In December 2019 Shelter estimated that 280,000 people were homeless in England.

The statutory homelessness figures tell us how many households have contacted councils for help with homelessness. In the year 2019-20 288,470 households were owed assistance from councils in England to prevent or relieve homelessness.  

Since the Homelessness Reduction Act, every council has had an obligation to submit statutory homelessness figures. These tell us how many households have contacted councils for help with homelessness.

These statistics are released every three months and can be found on the government's webiste.

In the year 2019-20 288,470 households were owed assistance from councils in England to prevent or relieve homelessness.  

In London the Greater London Authority funds a robust Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN). This is managed by Homeless Link and is a multi-agency database recording information about rough sleepers and the wider street population in London. Statistical reports are produced every quarter.

You can read more about the CHAIN system.

You can find the latest CHAIN data here

Homeless Link member, Crisis UK, produce an annual monitor of homelessness which takes a wider definition of homelessness. It considers:

• People sleeping rough. 
• Single homeless people living in hostels, shelters and temporary supported accommodation. 
• Statutorily homeless households – households who seek housing assistance from local authorities on grounds of being currently or imminently without accommodation. 
• ‘Hidden homeless’ households – people who may be considered homeless but whose situation is not ‘visible’ either on the streets or in official statistics 

Crisis also report statistics for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can read the latest reports from Crisis here.

The Crisis Monitor attempts to estimate the number of hidden homeless. Two groups that are of particular note are women and rural homeless.

In 2022 in London for the first time a separate census was carries out of women sleeping rough.

And in 2023 Homeless Link were pleased to be on the advisory group of this research initiative into rural homelessness.