Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges to End Rough Sleeping

Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping across Britain during his first address outside Downing Street on July 25, 2026. The commitment comes as official data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government shows rough sleeping in England reached a record 4,793 people in autumn 2025. Local trends mirror this rise, with Plymouth recording 43 rough sleepers last year, more than double its 2020 figure.

Homelessness charities and advocates have responded with calls for a more comprehensive strategy. The charity Crisis recommended the government establish a dedicated homelessness unit and adopt the Housing First programme as a national blueprint. St Mungo's emphasized the need for integrated support networks for substance abuse and measures to prevent homelessness following discharge from prisons, hospitals, or asylum claims. Shelter CEO Sarah Elliott warned that rough sleeping is only the "tip of the homelessness iceberg," noting that over 176,000 children remain in unstable temporary accommodation.

To achieve these goals, advocates urge the government to accelerate the delivery of £39 billion committed for social and affordable housing. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is expected to support these efforts through her long-standing advocacy for social housing. While some critics argue the root causes are too complex for a quick fix, local successes exist; Blackburn with Darwen Council has reduced rough sleeping by 47 percent since 2021 using affordable housing and homeless pods.