London's Mayor vows to put an end to homelessness, contingent upon a specific term
London, January 2024 - As the general election looms in January, the race for the mayoralty of London is heating up. Sadiq Khan, the incumbent Mayor, has pledged to end rough sleeping in the city by 2030, a commitment he first made when he took office in 2016.
Khan's plan focuses on investing in homelessness prevention, affordable housing, and support services. The strategy includes ending the requirement that people must be seen actively sleeping rough before they receive support, enabling earlier intervention for those at risk. This approach is designed to tackle the complex causes of homelessness rather than criminalizing rough sleeping.
The plan's success is notably dependent on continued and increased support from a Labour government. The mayor's office has emphasized the importance of government collaboration and funding. Khan has secured £17 million in capital funding from the UK government specifically for this cause, and City Hall’s rough sleeping budget for 2025-26 is approximately £44.8 million, representing a five-fold increase since Khan took office in 2016.
However, despite the plan, rough sleeping in London has increased recently. Official figures show a 26% rise in long-term rough sleeping in early 2025, indicating that while Khan’s plan is ambitious, the city is currently “nowhere near on track” to meet the target. Homelessness charities have called for a joined-up national strategy and more immediate government action.
Khan's pledge to end rough sleeping by 2030 has faced criticism from Susan Hall, the Conservative mayoral candidate. On the other hand, John Glenton, the executive director of care and support at Riverside, has praised Khan's commitment to the cause. Glenton agrees with Khan's plan to expand rough sleeping hubs and strengthen relationships with boroughs, charities, and businesses.
In 2021, the number of people sleeping rough in London had fallen by 19% year-on-year after a year of Sadiq Khan being in post. However, the latest data from CHAIN shows that 1,070 individuals were found sleeping rough in West End boroughs of Camden and Westminster between January and March 2024.
As the election approaches, Khan has promised an additional £10 million over the next three years on top of City Hall's current annual homeless budget of some £36 million. He has also stated that a Labour government could provide 1.5 million new homes across the country, with a significant portion in London.
Regarding housing quality, Khan believes that a Labour government could improve landlord licensing, leading to better quality accommodation in London. However, no new information about this aspect of his plan was provided in this paragraph.
As voters prepare to register for local elections, which close at midnight tonight, the race to end rough sleeping in London by 2030 remains a key issue in the mayoral campaign. The election will take place on 2nd May 2024.
[1] Khan, S. (2023). Ending Rough Sleeping in London: A Mayoral Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/supporting-londoners/ending-homelessness/ending-rough-sleeping-in-london-a-mayoral-action-plan
[2] London.gov.uk. (2024). Rough Sleeping in London: Funding and Spending. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/supporting-londoners/ending-homelessness/rough-sleeping-in-london-funding-and-spending
[3] London.gov.uk. (2025). Rough Sleeping in London: Latest Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/supporting-londoners/ending-homelessness/rough-sleeping-in-london-latest-statistics
[4] Khan, S. (2023). Homelessness: A National Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/supporting-londoners/ending-homelessness/homelessness-a-national-crisis
[5] Khan, S. (2023). Ending Rough Sleeping in London: Early Intervention and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/supporting-londoners/ending-homelessness/ending-rough-sleeping-in-london-early-intervention-and-prevention
- Sadiq Khan's mayoral action plan for ending rough sleeping in London by 2030 involves investing not only in homelessness prevention and affordable housing but also in mental health support services.
- The success of Khan's plan is reliant not only on continued government support, as evidenced by the £17 million in capital funding from the UK government and the large increase in City Hall’s rough sleeping budget, but also on a nationwide strategy and immediate government action to address homelessness.
- In addition to his pledge to eradicate rough sleeping, Sadiq Khan has expressed his belief that a Labour government could improve landlord licensing, leading to better quality housing and accommodation in London, specifically addressing the 'housing' and 'general-news' categories.
