London mayor announces extra £10m to tackle rough sleeping

The ending homelessness hubs allow people sleeping rough for the first time to be assessed by professional teams who can make plans to support them away from the streets in the long term.

The fifth hub is expected to open in spring 2026 and help a further 500 people per year.

The new focus on prevention could see the hubs taking referrals from partners such as day centres in cases where people have not previously slept rough but are at immediate risk of doing so, the mayor said.

The investment will also provide the resources needed to bring more homes into the mayor’s homes off the streets scheme, for example through Housing First.

The extra funding is part of Mr Khan’s commitment to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030.

City Hall said the funding package was the “biggest ever single investment” in addressing rough sleeping in the capital to date.

Previous increases in funding have mainly been funded or jointly funded by the government rather than new GLA single funding investments.

Mr Khan also renewed his pledge to work with the government, London boroughs and the homelessness sector in his forthcoming plan of action – due to be published this spring – to put the capital “on a pathway to end rough sleeping”.

“Tackling the capital’s rough sleeping crisis won’t be easy, but I’m confident it can be done with strong leadership and a clear vision for how to get there, backed by the government and wider society,” he said.

The mayor added that the new plan of action is set to have a “stronger focus on prevention” and build on existing work, such as the ‘No Second Night Out’ services delivered by charity St Mungo’s to offer specialist care and support for Londoners sleeping rough.

“This investment in new hubs will help us be there for people before they end up sleeping rough,” said Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s.

“Shifting the dial to prevention brings us closer to our goal of ending homelessness for good, meaning fewer people relying on emergency accommodation in an already creaking housing system.”

At the end of last year, Mr Khan announced that several charities will receive £300,000 to fund accommodation into the new year for people experiencing homelessness in London.