LONDON - In a small square in central London, Kevin was hawking copies of the Big Issue, a charitable magazine sold by homeless street vendors. Kevin, 60, has been homeless since being released from prison in 2010 and is sceptical about new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's pledge to "end rough sleeping". Kevin now lives in a tent, so is officially classed as a rough sleeper. "I've been in three different hostels in central London and I wouldn't put my dog in one of them. - Record highs -The number of rough sleepers in England reached a record 4,793 in 2025, according to government figures.