The 44-year-old actor said he had to find a place to spend the night as he did not have anywhere to put up, reported Contactmusic.
"I faced homelessness once, and it just seems bizarre that young people are getting into this perpetual cycle.
"This is England, Great Britain, we shouldn't be facing that," Elba told TimeOut magazine.
"The Dark Tower" actor's comment comes after he appeared at the Shelter benefit with rapper Skepta.
"I've got a passion and I turned up to say: 'Skepta's here, support the cause'," Elba added.