Over 3500 young people expected to be homeless in London over Christmas
A new report by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint says one young person becomes homeless every 4 minutes
A youth homeless charity says almost 23 thousand young people will be homeless this Christmas, including over 3500 across London.
Latest figures from the charity Centrepoint say that one person, between the ages of 16 and 24, becomes homeless every 4 minutes.
Centrepoint also says many young people are being wrongly turned away from support, with one person contacting the charity each day after being turned away from council homeless support.
To highlight the thousands expected to spend Christmas alone on the streets, the charity are unveiling a huge Christmas snow globe on London's South Bank.
The globe will tell the story of Mars, a 19-year-old who became homeless after a family breakdown.
Mars received help from CenterPoint, receiving emotional support, mental health services and life skill training.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says he was shocked to see these rising numbers.
"We are the fifth richest country in the world. It can't be right that one of the richest countries you have people sleeping rough.
"There are lots of young people who leave home for a variety of reasons, and that is why it is really important to try and stop at the source the reason for rough sleeping".
The Mayor also told us he is hopeful that we will see the end of all rough sleeping in London.
"We did it in the noughties. There was more than a 60% reduction in rough sleeping in the noughties.
"During the pandemic we got rid of it all together, so I am determined to work with the government, experts and charities to finally end rough sleeping".