New figures – from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) – has found the number of young people seen rough sleeping in London has dropped by nearly half.

Between April and June 2026, 202 18–25-year-olds and under were recorded as sleeping rough. This was a 45% decrease from the same quarter last year when 368 young people were reported.

Overall, the number of people rough sleeping in the capital decreased – dropping by 10% from the same period last year – while it was the same for care leavers with 234 recorded as rough sleeping for Q1 this year, compared to 256 for the same quarter last year, a 9% decrease.

Lisa Doyle, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “This fall in numbers shows that rough sleeping can be ended.

“London is providing the blueprint for what can be achieved when political leaders has the vision and intent to end street homelessness.

“These figures are a real cause for celebration, but the job is not done. The Mayor and the Government continue these efforts until rough sleeping is reduced to as close to zero as possible, and anyone forced onto the streets is helped off them quickly.

“We must also remember that homelessness does not begin and end with rough sleeping. For every person on the streets, many thousands more are living in insecure or unsafe situations. To avoid reversing this positive trend, the Government must now also address the causes and consequences of those experiences too, and step up efforts to prevent homelessness.”