Burnham says government funding alone may not be enough to tackle rough sleeping

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has acknowledged that government funding alone may not be enough to deliver his ambition of getting people sleeping rough off the streets, as he launched a major national drive ahead of Christmas.

The government has announced a £442 million package aimed at providing people sleeping rough in England with a route off the streets this winter, including accommodation and wider support with issues such as health and housing.

The package includes an additional £102 million from existing Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government budgets, alongside £340 million announced last month to help people experiencing long-term rough sleeping move into settled accommodation over the next three years.

However, Burnham said government investment would need to be accompanied by action from organisations across society.

Speaking during a visit to the North East, the Prime Minister said he felt strongly about tackling homelessness but suggested public funding on its own may not be sufficient. Community organisations, charities, faith groups, businesses and other sectors are expected to be asked to contribute to the wider effort.

The approach draws on lessons from the pandemic-era Everyone In programme, when thousands of people sleeping rough were moved into emergency accommodation.

As part of the new programme, £8.4 million will be added to the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, recognising the role charities, faith groups and community organisations can play in supporting people away from the streets.

Burnham has also announced plans for a national summit this autumn bringing together representatives from business, finance, charities, health services, faith communities and other sectors to consider how they can contribute to ending rough sleeping.

The government says areas experiencing the greatest levels of need will receive the largest share of support, with new accommodation and services due to be introduced across England during the winter.

The initiative is intended not only to provide emergency accommodation but also to connect people with longer-term housing, health and other support designed to help them maintain a more stable life.

Burnham has made ending rough sleeping one of the first priorities of his premiership, arguing that people sleeping in doorways and outside stations should not be accepted as an inevitable feature of life in Britain.

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