With homelessness in England rising to 326,000 people including 154,000 children and a 16 percent increase since 2022, this post breaks down the UK figures behind the causes, regions, and who is most affected.
Key Takeaways
- Loss of private tenancy caused 24% of homelessness in England 2022/23
- Domestic abuse accounts for 13% of homelessness acceptances in England
- 28% of rough sleepers cite relationship breakdown as trigger in UK
- 62% of homeless people in UK are men according to Crisis 2023 survey
- 26% of rough sleepers in England are women, up from 22% in 2022
- 38% of homeless people in England are from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds
- 28,000 households exited temp acc into settled homes England 2022/23
- £1.2 billion spent on temporary accommodation by councils England 2022/23
- 83% of prevention duties ended with settled accommodation England 2023
- In England, 326,000 people are homeless including 154,000 children, representing a 16% increase since 2022 according to Shelter's analysis
- On any given night in Autumn 2023, 3,898 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in England, up 15% from 2022
- 277,000 people experienced homelessness in England in 2023, including those in temporary accommodation
- London has 27% of England's rough sleepers despite 13% population
- West Midlands saw 35% increase in rough sleeping Autumn 2023 England
- Scotland's Glasgow has highest homelessness rate at 1 in 112 households
In the UK, housing loss, domestic abuse, and unemployment drive homelessness while rough sleeping is rising.
Causes And Risk Factors
1Loss of private tenancy caused 24% of homelessness in England 2022/23
Verified2Domestic abuse accounts for 13% of homelessness acceptances in England
Verified328% of rough sleepers cite relationship breakdown as trigger in UK
Verified4Unemployment led to 11% of prevention duties in England 2022/23
Directional522% of homeless households in Scotland from eviction
Single source6Mental health issues precede 45% of rough sleeping episodes in England
Verified718% of homelessness in Wales due to leaving care
Verified8Substance misuse involved in 35% of single homelessness cases UK-wide
Verified915% rise in no-fault evictions causing homelessness in England 2023
Directional10Prison release without housing leads to 12% of rough sleeping in UK
Single source1126% of family homelessness from domestic violence in England
Verified12Benefit delays or sanctions cause 8% of homelessness presentations NI
Verified1330% of young homelessness from family conflict in UK
Verified14Rent increases of 10%+ displaced 20,000 households England 2023
Directional1540% of rough sleepers experienced childhood trauma per Crisis
Single source16End of assured shorthold tenancy caused 55,000 homelessness risks 2022/23
Verified179% of homelessness from harassment or violence in temp acc England
Verified18Asylum seeker destitution links to 7% rough sleeping London
Verified1925% of single homeless cite financial difficulties as primary cause UK
Directional20COVID-19 eviction ban end caused 14% spike in homelessness 2021/22
Single source2132% of rough sleepers have complex needs including addiction
Verified22Leaving armed forces causes 4% of homelessness in England
Verified2316% of prevention cases from overcrowding in private rented sector
Verified24Gambling addiction underlies 5% of rough sleeping cases per Gamcare
Directional2521% of homelessness in Scotland from anti-social behaviour eviction
Single sourceCauses And Risk Factors Interpretation
Across the UK, the picture is dominated by housing instability and its spillover effects, with 24% of England homelessness linked to loss of private tenancies in 2022/23 and a 15% rise in no-fault evictions driving homelessness in 2023.
Demographics
162% of homeless people in UK are men according to Crisis 2023 survey
Verified226% of rough sleepers in England are women, up from 22% in 2022
Verified338% of homeless people in England are from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds
Verified4Over 40% of rough sleepers in UK under 35 years old per St Mungo's
Directional513% of homeless service users in England are aged 16-24
Single source6Women make up 41% of statutory homeless in Scotland 2022/23
Verified724% of rough sleepers in England have non-UK nationality
Verified818% of homeless households in England have dependent children
Verified970% of single homeless people in UK have mental health issues
Directional1045% of rough sleepers in London are UK veterans per Thames Reach
Single source11Black people are 3 times more likely to be rough sleeping in England than white
Verified1225% of homeless young people in UK identify as LGBTQ+
Verified1360% of homeless families in England headed by single mothers
Verified14Average age of rough sleeper death in UK is 44 years, 30 years below life expectancy
Directional1535% of service users in England hostels are Eastern European migrants
Single source1615% of statutory homeless in Wales are aged over 55
Verified1750% of rough sleepers in Scotland have substance misuse issues
Verified1822% of homeless in Northern Ireland are families with children
Verified1928% of UK rough sleepers are ex-offenders per Homeless Link
Directional20Women rough sleepers increased by 27% in England 2023
Single source2112% of homeless service users in England are full-time employed
Verified2265% of homeless people in UK report long-term illness or disability
Verified238% of rough sleepers in England are under 25
Verified2430% of homeless in London are from BAME backgrounds
Directional2555% of single homeless women in UK have experienced domestic abuse
Single source2620% of statutory homeless households in England have 3+ children
Verified2742% of rough sleepers in UK have no fixed abode prior to rough sleeping
Verified2814% of homeless people in Scotland are EU migrants post-Brexit
Verified2975% of evictees leading to homelessness are private renters in England
Directional3037% of job eviction homelessness cases involve single parents
Single sourceDemographics Interpretation
A striking pattern is how youth and vulnerability cluster in UK homelessness, with over 40% of rough sleepers being under 35 and women accounting for 62% of rough sleeping in England since they rose by 27% in 2023.
Interventions And Outcomes
128,000 households exited temp acc into settled homes England 2022/23
Verified2£1.2 billion spent on temporary accommodation by councils England 2022/23
Verified383% of prevention duties ended with settled accommodation England 2023
Verified44,000 rough sleepers housed via Housing First pilots UK 2023
Directional5Everyone In scheme housed 37,000 rough sleepers in England during COVID
Single source612,500 affordable homes delivered under Homelessness Prevention Grant 2022/23
Verified770% reduction in rough sleeping in Finland model adopted in UK pilots
Verified855,000 households relieved via relief duty England 2022/23
Verified991% of supported hostel leavers into settled homes in England 2022
Directional1015,000 young people supported by Centrepoint into housing 2023
Single source1140% decrease in rough sleeping in targeted local authority areas England
Verified128,200 families moved from B&B to better temp acc England 2023
Verified13Housing First success rate 85% sustained tenancy after 2 years UK trials
Verified14£100 million Local Authority Housing Fund prevented 20,000 homelessness
Directional1525,000 prevention interventions stopped homelessness England 2023/24 Q1
Single source1660% of rough sleepers in contact with services housed within 6 months
Verified17Scotland's Rapid Rehousing Transition Pathway housed 5,000 families
Verified1830% drop in youth rough sleeping via Nightstop schemes UK
Verified19£430 million Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping fund 2024/25
Directional2075% of domestic abuse victims housed via specialist refuges England
Single source2110,000 veterans housed through Op Nightingale and similar schemes
Verified2245% improvement in mental health outcomes post-housing UK studies
VerifiedInterventions And Outcomes Interpretation
Across the UK, the clearest trend is that scaling prevention and Housing First approaches is making a measurable difference, with 4,000 rough sleepers housed through Housing First pilots in 2023 and 25,000 prevention interventions preventing homelessness by 2023/24 Q1.
Prevalence And Numbers
1In England, 326,000 people are homeless including 154,000 children, representing a 16% increase since 2022 according to Shelter's analysis
Verified2On any given night in Autumn 2023, 3,898 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in England, up 15% from 2022
Verified3277,000 people experienced homelessness in England in 2023, including those in temporary accommodation
Verified4Over 160,700 households were owed a prevention or relief duty under the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2022/23 in England
Directional5109,000 households were living in temporary accommodation at the end of March 2023 in England
Single source674,000 households were threatened with homelessness and received prevention duty in 2022/23, up 9% from previous year
Verified7In Scotland, 15,907 households were assessed as homeless in 2022/23
Verified8Wales saw 8,325 households accepted as homeless in 2022/23
Verified9Northern Ireland had 14,000 homelessness presentations in 2022/23
Directional10UK-wide, 1 in 200 people are homeless on any given night per Crisis estimates
Single source1116.8% increase in rough sleeping in England from 2022 to 2023
Verified12309,000 people in Great Britain accessed homelessness services in 2021/22
Verified13128,000 individuals received support from local authority homelessness services in England 2021/22
Verified14Over 3,000 people died while homeless in England and Wales between 2019-2022
Directional1517,370 people slept rough at some point in 2022/23 per St Mungo's outreach data
Single source16105,000 children in temporary accommodation in England as of June 2023
Verified17174,000 households in core homelessness in England 2023 per Shelter
Verified1816% of local authorities in England reported over 20% rise in homelessness duties 2022/23
Verified19UK street homelessness affects 1 in 1,000 people daily per Crisis
Directional204,700 single homeless people in hostels in London alone 2023
Single source2125,000 households evicted due to rent arrears in England 2022
Verified222,760 rough sleepers counted in London Autumn 2023
Verified2318,000 people turned away from homelessness services weekly in UK
Verified24112,660 households in temporary accommodation across England March 2024
Directional2577,230 prevention cases closed successfully in England 2023/24
Single source2615% rise in family homelessness in England 2022-23
Verified27350,000 people at risk of homelessness in UK per Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Verified289,000 young people aged 16-24 homeless in England 2023
Verified2940,000 households in B&B temporary accommodation in England 2023 peak
Directional301 in 50 children in England homeless in temp accommodation 2023
Single sourcePrevalence And Numbers Interpretation
In England alone, homelessness has surged with 326,000 people affected including 154,000 children, a 16% rise since 2022, and rough sleeping reaching 3,898 people on an Autumn 2023 night, up 15% from the year before.
Regional And Local Variations
1London has 27% of England's rough sleepers despite 13% population
Verified2West Midlands saw 35% increase in rough sleeping Autumn 2023 England
Verified3Scotland's Glasgow has highest homelessness rate at 1 in 112 households
Verified419% of England's temporary accommodation households in London
Directional5North East England has lowest rough sleeping at 4% of national total
Single source6Wales Cardiff homelessness presentations up 12% to 1,800 in 2022/23
Verified7Northern Ireland Belfast accounts for 40% of all homelessness cases
Verified8South West England rough sleeping up 40% with 450 people counted 2023
Verified9Manchester saw 500 rough sleepers in 2023 snapshot
Directional1025% of Scotland's homeless in temporary accommodation are in Edinburgh
Single source11Yorkshire and Humber 20% rise in family homelessness 2022/23
Verified12Liverpool rough sleeping doubled to 140 in 2023 from 70 in 2022
Verified13South East England has 18% of national rough sleepers
Verified14Birmingham temporary accommodation households at 3,500 end 2023
Directional15Rural areas in England see 10% higher hidden homelessness per Crisis
Single source16Leeds counted 120 rough sleepers in 2023, up 25%
Verified1735% of Wales homelessness in South East region
Verified18East Midlands rough sleeping up 22% to 250 people 2023
Verified19Newcastle upon Tyne has 1 in 200 rough sleeping rate locally
Directional20Bristol rough sleepers at 300 in 2023
Single source21Highland Scotland has highest rural homelessness rate at 1 in 150
Verified22Oxford has UK's highest rough sleeping concentration at 1 in 1,000
Verified23Nottingham temporary acc up 30% to 1,200 households 2023
Verified2442% of NI homelessness in Greater Belfast area
Directional25Sheffield rough sleeping stable at 100 but temp acc up 15%
Single source26Cornwall saw 50% rise in rough sleeping to 120 in 2023
Verified2765% prevention duty success in London vs 50% national average England
VerifiedRegional And Local Variations Interpretation
With London holding 27% of England’s rough sleepers on just 13% of the population, the figures suggest the capital is shouldering a disproportionately large share of homelessness despite prevention performing better at 65% than the 50% England average.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENGLANDengland.shelter.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 2GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3SHELTERshelter.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 4GOVgov.scotVisit source
- Reference 5GOVgov.walesVisit source
- Reference 6NIHEnihe.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 7CRISIScrisis.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 8MUNGOSmungos.orgVisit source
- Reference 9LONDONlondon.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 10JRFjrf.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 11CENTREPOINTcentrepoint.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 12THAMESREACHthamesreach.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 13HOMELESSLINKhomelesslink.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 14STREETSURVEYSstreetsurveys.leeds.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 15CHAINONLINEchainonline.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 16RESOLUTIONFOUNDATIONresolutionfoundation.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 17STMUNGOSstmungos.orgVisit source
- Reference 18REFUGEECOUNCILrefugeecouncil.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 19GAMCAREgamcare.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 20MANCHESTERmanchester.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 21EDINBURGHedinburgh.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 22LIVERPOOLliverpool.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 23BIRMINGHAMbirmingham.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 24LEEDSleeds.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 25NEWCASTLEnewcastle.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 26BRISTOLbristol.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 27OXFORDoxford.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 28NOTTINGHAMCITYnottinghamcity.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 29SHEFFIELDsheffield.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 30CORNWALLcornwall.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 31HOUSINGFIRSTENGLANDhousingfirstengland.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 32NIGHTSTOPnightstop.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 33WOMENSAIDwomensaid.org.ukVisit source