Prevention, early intervention and new housing at the heart of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s landmark strategy backed by £17m government funding
In a major new initiative to tackle homelessness, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched a comprehensive plan of action aimed at ending rough sleeping in the capital for good by 2030. The strategy puts prevention at its core, backed by unprecedented investment, and marks a fundamental shift in how the city will respond to people at risk of homelessness.
With rough sleeping in London rising 58 per cent over the past decade and 183,000 Londoners estimated to be homeless, the Mayor’s plan acknowledges the scale of the crisis and aims to shift the focus from crisis management to long-term prevention. Crucially, the new approach seeks to end the current requirement for Londoners to be seen sleeping rough before they can access support – a policy that will be phased out by 2028.
“Londoners care deeply about the plight of those who are forced to sleep rough on our streets, but they feel powerless in the face of such a growing crisis,” said Sadiq Khan. “We are trapped in a vicious cycle where overstretched services can only deal with emergencies, not the root causes. My plan will help break that cycle, with prevention at the heart of everything we do.”
Key to the Mayor’s strategy is a £17 million capital investment secured from the UK Government. This will fund the refurbishment of up to 500 empty homes to provide stable housing for those most at risk of ending up on the streets, and support the opening of a new Ending Homelessness Hub. These hubs will provide 24/7 support to people in danger of becoming homeless, with tailored services for those facing multiple and complex challenges such as poor mental health, addiction, or uncertain immigration status.
Other initiatives in the plan include the launch of a dedicated homelessness prevention phoneline and the deployment of more support workers and volunteers in community spaces such as day centres and food banks. These workers will be able to identify vulnerable individuals and build support plans before people are forced to sleep rough. The Mayor’s approach builds on years of increasing investment. City Hall’s rough sleeping budget now stands at £44.8 million for 2025/26 – more than five times what it was when Khan first took office in 2016. Since then, mayoral services have helped around 18,000 people off the streets, with 75 per cent remaining in stable accommodation.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve already done, but it’s clear we must go further,” said Khan. “Our new plan will unlock more homes, create more hubs, and put more boots on the ground. We’re aiming not just to manage rough sleeping but to end it – permanently.”
The plan has been welcomed across the sector, with leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s praising its emphasis on prevention and long-term housing. “Rough sleeping is a crisis and should not be a prerequisite for help,” said CEO Emma Haddad. “We welcome the Mayor’s ambition to end the verification-based model and are proud to play a central role in delivering the new Ending Homelessness Hubs.”
The initiative also received support from Government. Rushanara Ali, Minister for Homelessness, said the Mayor’s plan aligns with national priorities. “We welcome this bold new action and its relentless focus on prevention. Alongside our national strategy and £1 billion investment this year, we are working to reverse years of failure and get back on track to ending homelessness.”
London Councils, which represents the capital’s local authorities, also backed the plan. Councillor Grace Williams, London Councils’ Deputy Chair for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Nobody should have to sleep rough in London. This action plan is an important step, and boroughs are ready to work closely with the Mayor and government to end homelessness in all its forms.”
“For the first time, we’re unlocking 500 empty homes, in need of refurbishment, that will be brought back into good condition and ringfenced for those that need them most.”
-Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Crucially, voices with lived experience of homelessness are at the heart of the Mayor’s strategy. Latoya, a member of the Mayor’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, emphasised the urgency: “The enormity of rough sleeping in London requires urgent attention. Change begins now, and we’re ready to work on the ground to make it happen.”
With political will aligning across City Hall, central government, local councils, and frontline services, the Mayor hopes this shared effort will replicate past moments of success. “The last time we came close to ending rough sleeping, we had a Mayor and a Government on the same page,” Khan said. “Now, we have the opportunity to do the same again.”
