UK homelessness plan targets rough sleeping by Christmas

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out a plan to help people sleeping rough in England move off the streets by Christmas, with emergency accommodation and longer-term housing support planned for this winter.

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

Burnham also told The Big Issue magazine that he would donate 15% of his salary to homelessness causes. The magazine said the prime minister is paid about £180,000 a year.

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 people in 2025, including people without a permanent home who were not sleeping outdoors.

Burnham said local leaders, including mayors, would be expected to drive the effort before Christmas. He said during a visit to a homeless charity in Newcastle that the programme would be funded from the existing housing ministry budget, but added that government money might not be enough on its own.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the funding would help thousands of people leave the streets and move into secure homes. Charities broadly welcomed the announcement, while Conservative housing spokesman James Cleverly criticised it as lacking a delivery plan and detail on funding.