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The number of rough sleepers in London has surged to a record high, with around 22 people now sleeping on the streets for the first time each day, new figures suggest.

Data collated by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows 3,985 people slept rough across the capital from July to September 2019, 28% increase on the same period last year.

The figures show that 2,069 people were new rough sleepers, 50% rise in 12 months, meaning someone is becoming homeless 22 times a day and nearly every two hours.

Of rough sleepers on the capital, 18%– more than 700 – were women, while half (49%) had a mental health need.

The data further revealed just over half (52%) were non-UK nationals.

Earlier this month the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data revealing that 726 people died whilst sleeping rough or in emergency accommodation last year.

This is a 22% increase on the figure of 597 people who died in 2017 and the highest year to year increase since the ONS time series began.

Howard Sinclair, St Mungo’s CEO said: “There is a rough sleeping crisis on our streets, not just in London, but across the country. This is a national scandal.

“To learn that more than 20 people slept rough for the first time each night in London over the summer brings the scale of the issue into sharp focus. That’s more people alone and on the streets for the first time, exposed to dangers including violence, abuse and serious ill health.

“These new figures show the uphill battle that we and other charities are facing.

“Around half are non-UK nationals and are unlikely to have access to benefits, housing or healthcare so are left desperate and destitute.

“We also know more people are dying whilst homeless and that council funding cuts and welfare reform have reduced the help available for people in this desperate situation.”

He added: “I’m proud of the hard work of our dedicated staff. Where St Mungo’s staff can help, we know 80% of people don’t sleep rough for a second night.

“But whilst we are successfully supporting more people off the streets, too many people are sleeping rough for the first time.

He said that this is down to the “failure of successive governments” to tackle the systemic causes of homelessness.

“Charities can’t tackle this alone and we urgently need the government to take bold action and a longer-term view.

“Put back the £1bn a year that’s been cut from homelessness services over the last decade, increase housing benefit so it covers the cost of rent, fund specialist housing support for non-UK nationals sleeping rough and end this scandal of death and destitution”, he added.