The London Assembly unanimously supported Sian Berry’s call for more action on the crisis of youth homelessness in London.
The number of rough sleepers, in the Capital, among 18-25 year olds has rapidly increased by 47% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
Coronavirus has compounded homelessness in the Capital for young people with restrictions forcing them on to the streets, where as before they could have stayed with a friend on their sofa. Many young people are slipping through the cracks and being forgotten.
Sian Berry said, “Coronavirus is disproportionately effecting young people; they need protection from the harm caused by rough sleeping before it can start. We need dedicated spaces for under 25s facing homelessness for the first time.”
Young people now make 11 % of the total number of rough sleepers – an historical high. The unanimous support for the Green Party motion to help our young Londoners means the Mayor can dedicate a suitable proportion of GLA rough sleeping funding to specialist pan-London support for homeless young people. Now it’s for the Mayor to act.