Rough sleepers in England offered help by Christmas

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to offer people sleeping rough in England a way off the streets by Christmas, using emergency accommodation and longer-term housing support this winter.

The government said areas with the highest levels of homelessness and housing pressure would receive the largest share of a boosted £442 million, or $666 million, funding package. It said the money would provide immediate accommodation and support the creation of more than 1,000 permanent homes over the next three years.

The announcement came a month after Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister and followed his first-day pledge to end rough sleeping. Burnham said local leaders, including mayors, would be expected to drive action before Christmas.

Government figures put the number of rough sleepers in England at a record 4,793 in 2025. Shelter estimated total homelessness in England at 382,000 in 2025, including people without a permanent residence or secure tenure, as well as families and children. The Institute for Public Policy Research warned earlier in the year that the number could rise by 25 percent by 2030.

Burnham also pledged that the government would convene the first national summit dedicated to tackling rough sleeping later in the year.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the funding would help thousands of people leave the streets, move into secure homes and get support. Charities broadly welcomed the announcement, while Conservative housing spokesman James Cleverly said it had been presented without a delivery plan and with little detail on how it would be paid for.