The London mayor has announced his intention to eliminate the “trauma” experienced by individuals who must endure sleeping on the streets before they can receive assistance.

His goal is to eradicate rough sleeping by 2030, and he has obtained £17 million in funding from the central government to support this initiative.

Sir Sadiq Khan emphasized that his updated action plan will prioritize “prevention and expanding the availability of swift, sustainable pathways out of homelessness.”

In response, Lord Bailey, the housing spokesman for the City Hall Conservatives, remarked that resolving homelessness necessitates addressing the housing crisis first — a challenge he claims the mayor has not adequately tackled. He urged Khan to pressure the government for increased action.

According to the Trust for London, nearly 12,000 individuals experienced rough sleeping in 2023/24, with the charity’s data revealing a tripling in the number of those on the streets compared to 2008/09.

Sir Sadiq asserted that collaboration with the government is essential for meaningful advancements, calling this synergy a “game changer.”

“For the first time, we have a minister for homelessness joining us on this journey,” he stated. “They have already committed £17 million to support our goals, in addition to the record £10 million I announced in January.”

The government funding is earmarked for establishing a new Ending Homelessness Hub that will provide round-the-clock support to those most at risk of rough sleeping and for expanding the Homes off the Streets program, which aims to rehabilitate up to 500 vacant properties.

The mayor pledged to eliminate the current requirement for Londoners to be found sleeping outdoors before receiving support, ensuring that those with the highest risk of rough sleeping receive timely assistance tailored to their specific needs.

City Hall has allocated £44.8 million to tackle rough sleeping in the 2025/26 budget, representing a fivefold increase since the mayor assumed office in 2016.

When confronted about the recent agreement between the mayor and government to cut over 6,000 homes from the affordable housing initiative, Sir Sadiq attributed it to “the actions of the previous government,” as well as the impact of rising interest rates, construction expenses, and complications from Brexit and building safety delays.

He claimed that over the past nine years, “we have helped more than 18,000 people leave the streets of our city.”

Lord Bailey retorted that “press releases filled with insincere concern and minimal funding simply do not suffice.” He suggested that both London residents and local councils are suffering as Khan and the Labour Party fail to take adequate action.

“The burden of addressing rough sleeping is straining council budgets throughout the city as the situation continues to deteriorate,” he noted.

Emma Haddad, CEO of the homeless charity St Mungo’s, highlighted that rough sleeping represents a crisis and should not be a prerequisite for assistance. She explained that many clients struggle with long-term mental and physical health issues that can heighten their risk of homelessness and hinder access to the necessary support.

She also pointed out the growing number of individuals shut out of the increasingly unaffordable private rental market, a trend exacerbated by inadequate housing supply and strong demand.

City Hall stated that the mayor’s new strategy will incorporate specialized services catering to the unique needs of certain groups of Londoners, particularly those facing additional barriers due to high support requirements or uncertain immigration status.

In an analysis by Karl Mercer, BBC London’s political editor, he noted that while Sir Sadiq Khan is the latest mayor to vow to end rough sleeping, he is not the first to make such a promise.

Boris Johnson, a year into his mayoralty, proclaimed the need to address the issue, declaring it “scandalous” that individuals were forced to sleep on the streets in the 21st century. He aimed to eradicate rough sleeping by the time of the 2012 Olympics; however, he was unsuccessful, despite revisiting the issue in his successful 2019 national manifesto where he reiterated the pledge to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of the subsequent parliamentary term — a promise he also failed to deliver.

Sir Sadiq’s commitment is to conclude rough sleeping by 2030, a promise made during his re-election campaign last year, though this comes at a time when statistics indicate that the homeless issue is worsening.

In 2017/18, shortly after he took office, there were about 7,500 rough sleepers per year, leading the mayor to express his “embarrassment and anger” over such high numbers. Although the figures fell after peaking at 11,018 in 2020/21, they have risen consistently over the past two years, reaching an unprecedented 11,993 last year — all while funding for rough sleeping initiatives increased from around £8 million to nearly £45 million.

While setting deadlines and objectives may draw attention to the issue, rough sleeping is merely the most visible symptom of London’s homelessness crisis.

Recently, major housing associations in London reported to BBC London that they are constructing 66% fewer affordable homes than they did two years ago, citing high costs, stricter building regulations, and the burden of maintaining existing properties as reasons.

The very next day, both the mayor and the government announced a 22% reduction in the affordable home construction target for the capital.

The mayor’s emphasis will be on preventing individuals from becoming homeless in the first place, yet he is acutely aware that significantly increasing the availability of housing is also critical for any sustainable long-term strategy.