GETTY IMAGES
A row of people sleeping rough in the dark, outside shops

Homeless charity Shelter has said that of the 167,00 people facing homelessness this Christmas, 50% of those will be children.

Polly Neate, the charity’s chief executive, blamed the increase on a “chronic underinvestment” in social homes.

This number has also increased 11% since last year.

The Government said it is spending £2bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.

Shelter said its analysis of official homelessness figures and responses to Freedom of Information requests showed one in every 53 people in London are homeless.

The number of individuals sleeping rough has also increased by 34% in a year and more than 165,000 people were living in temporary accommodation.

The boroughs with the highest levels of homelessness are:

1.       Newham – 17,200 individuals without a home

2.       Westminster – 8,000 individuals without a home

3.       Hackney – 7,900 individuals without a home

Shelter have also warned that the true figure of homelessness levels could actually be much higher, with many people expected to be experiencing ‘hidden homelessness’ – such as sofa surfing.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

“That’s why we are spending £2bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, including making £1bn available so councils can give financial support for people to find a new home and move out of temporary accommodation.”

Newham Council also said it was working “incredibly hard” to support residents facing homelessness in the current housing crisis.

Today Sadiq Khan has launched his winter rough sleeping campaign in light of the ‘unbearable’ cost-of-living pressures force growing numbers of Londoners onto the streets.

The major is urging every Londoner to consider donating a few pounds to the winter rough sleeping campaign.

London news