Figures show homelessness still a crisis
published on 30 Apr 2025
Despite new figures showing a decrease in homelessness, The Salvation Army is warning that recent welfare cuts will put more people at risk of losing the roof over their heads.
- New statutory homelessness figures* for England revealed today that between October and December 2024 42,810 households were assessed as homeless, a decrease of 6.6% on last year.
- In the same period, 34,010 households were recorded as being threatened with homelessness.
- Also today, new London CHAIN (Combined Homelessness and Information Network)** figures, the most detailed data on rough sleeping in England, highlight that between January and March 2025 4,427 people were sleeping on the streets, an increase of 8% on last year.
- Of these 4,427 people, 706 were deemed to be living on the streets which was a 38% increase on the same period the previous year.
The Salvation Army’s Director of Homelessness Services, Nick Redmore said:
“For a number of years now, we have been warning that benefits don’t cover the basics. Rents are soaring and yet the local housing allowance does not come close to covering the cheapest of rents in many towns and cities. Less than 3% of private rents are affordable to people on Housing Benefit Health Equals | Campaigning for affordable rents with Crisis
“The government’s recent cuts to welfare benefits and the freeze on the Local Housing Allowance risks jeopardising its plans to tackle the growing plight of homelessness.
“People end up homeless for many complex reasons. Unless the government mends the poverty safety net, we will see more people end up without a home, some even on the streets because they simply can’t afford somewhere to live.”

The Salvation Army is calling for the following measures to tackle homelessness:
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Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to be immediately unfrozen and increased in line with rising rents so that people on lower incomes who are renting can afford somewhere to live. LHA is the rate used to calculate housing benefit for private renters.
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Ensure benefits like Universal Credit cover the cost of essentials.
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Remove the five-week wait for Universal Credit.
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Address the shortage of affordable housing, especially social housing so that people on low incomes who are trapped in unsuitable, temporary accommodation can afford a stable home.
*Statutory homelessness in England: October to December 2024 - GOV.UK
**Rough sleeping in London (CHAIN reports) - London Datastore