(MENAFN) Homelessness in England has surged dramatically over the past year, with local authorities grappling with rising demand and financial constraints, a new report warns.

The Homelessness Monitor England 2025, produced by UK charity Crisis, found that rough sleeping increased by 20% in the last year, reaching 4,667 individuals—nearly double the lowest numbers recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlighted that more than half of people sleeping rough in London are non-UK nationals, reflecting both an uptick in asylum applications and efforts to address case backlogs.

In 2024, councils—the local bodies responsible for public services—assessed 330,000 households as homeless or at risk of homelessness. This represents a 4% rise over the year and a 21% increase over three years.

The situation in London is even more acute. The city saw a 7% increase in those at risk of homelessness and a 27% rise among people already homeless. Seventy percent of local authorities reported higher demand for homelessness services.

The report identified especially sharp rises linked to evictions from Home Office asylum accommodation, which jumped 37%, and among people leaving institutions such as prisons or hospitals, which increased 22%.

Cases tied to domestic abuse have also climbed 14% since 2021, following the introduction of new legal protections for survivors.

At the same time, the system’s ability to resolve homelessness is declining. Instances where accommodation was successfully secured fell from 47% in 2021 to 39% in 2024.

The report concluded that England’s homelessness system is “under enormous strain,” warning that prevention efforts are being missed, support services are limited, and councils are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing for those in need.

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