Britainupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 22 July 2026Andy Burnham Doubles Funding To End Rough Sleeping In England By Christmas
5 Western Mainstream1 Asian1 Local Western1 Western TabloidPhoto: Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street / UK Government and Number 10, OGL 3 · Cropped for layout
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Additional £432 million committed to rough sleeping plan. Total investment reaches about £874 million to end rough sleeping.
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Funding doubles by Christmas
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government will double funding to ensure every rough sleeper in England is offered a route off the streets by Christmas, with the plan backed by a further £432m to be set out at the Budget on Wednesday. The government said the additional funding will extend support beyond March 2027 and through to the end of this Parliament, taking total investment behind the commitment to £874m.
No 10 said specialist outreach teams and new bed spaces are already operating in Coventry, with further provision being rolled out in places including Plymouth and Camden over the coming weeks. The government’s commitment is that every rough sleeper will be able to physically move into accommodation by Christmas and/or be offered support to prevent them sleeping rough.
Summit brings firms
Burnham is set to host the first-ever Rough Sleeping Summit at Downing Street, bringing together businesses, charities and local leaders to mobilise action on Monday. The government said the summit will include the National Housing Federation working with housing associations to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bed spaces, including empty properties that could be brought back into use.
Virgin Media O2 will provide practical digital support to frontline organisations, while L’Oréal Group will launch a Social Salon partnership with St Mungo’s and Haircuts4Homeless. More than 30 organisations have pledged support for the plan with new partnerships, including commercial businesses and charities.
Criticism and what comes next
Shadow housing secretary Katie Lam accused Burnham of failing to end rough sleeping when he was the Mayor of Greater Manchester and said rough sleeping had hit record highs "under Labour". Lam said: "Burnham is throwing another £432m at a problem he failed to solve in Greater Manchester," and she argued Healey must use his Budget to cut taxes for working people.
“One offer of a route off the streets won’t necessarily touch the sides.”
The most recent official figures estimated there were 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England. Emma Haddad said: "One offer of a route off the streets won’t necessarily touch the sides."