Boris and Ken sign up to homelessness pledge

The pledges are in support of the Take a Step to end rough sleeping campaign from Homeless Link, the umbrella organisation for homelessness in England. The campaign called on all Mayoral candidates to commit to delivering on nine core steps to end rough sleeping in the capital.

Labour candidate Ken Livingstone promised to endorse all of the nine steps set out by Homeless Link and 'work with the homeless to stop the inequality and poverty that leaves people on the streets'.

Incumbent Mayor and Conservative candidate Boris Johnson pledged to helping to end rough sleeping by "continuing to build on the success we have had so far through the London Delivery Board to have coordinated action in London to end rough sleeping and expand No Second Night Out to ensure that no one new to the street spends a second night sleeping rough".

Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick said if elected he would end rough sleeping by "promising to see built 360,000 affordable homes in London over the next decade offering people a decent standard of accommodation."

Green candidate Jenny Jones has promised to "protect frontline services and bring all homelessness grants under the Mayor and Assembly's remit".

Matt Harrison, Interim Chief Executive at Homeless Link, said:

"More than 400 people sleep on the streets of London every night. London has led the way in tackling rough sleeping through its commitment to the No Second Night Out initiative.

"However, ending rough sleeping is about more than getting people off the streets. We need to make sure there is somewhere for rough sleepers to go where they can get the support they need to get back into a life of independence.

"We believe that by committing to our nine steps the Mayor will make this a reality for London."