Burnham Announces Drive to End Rough Sleeping Over Christmas

Backed by a funding increase of £442m, Burnham has announced his pathway to ensure all who are rough sleeping can spend Christmas inside.

The plan will see new accommodation and support rolled out across the UK, with the areas most affected receiving larger support. The measures come alongside the announcement of a national summit to be held in Autumn, bringing together key leaders from across business, finance, housing and more to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

“No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.

“I won’t accept it. That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.

“We did it in the pandemic. We can do it again. But it needs all of us. Government will put the money in. But I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.

“Let’s get people out the cold. And let’s bring back hope.”

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Burnham made ending rough sleeping first key promise of his government, with key organisations calling for the use of a housing first system, which introduces a stable home as the beginning of the recovery process rather than at the end of it. The system has seen successful results in other countries such as Finland, with large scale reductions coming at the cost of investment into additional homes and bespoke support services.

Rough sleeping levels are recorded by a number of organisations, but the true number is thought to be much larger than those who are able to be recorded by typical apparatus. The commitment to providing pathways to a home over Christmas will no doubt be a significant step to ending rough sleeping nationally, but the government’s support could well find itself overflowing if the true scale of homelessness today makes itself known.

The CIH welcomed Burnham’s announcement, saying ” This is a welcome and urgent intervention, and we hope it marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to ending homelessness and rough sleeping. That must include additional investment in broader housing system, in particular, in supported housing and by unfreezing Local Housing Allowance to reflect the reality of private rents. This would help people access and retain homes and reduce pressure on overstretched councils.”

Gavin Smart, CIH Chief Executive said, “Today’s announcement of the Prime Ministers national drive to end rough sleeping is welcome and important. This kind of clear political leadership can be transformative. Although this much needed short-term intervention will provide immediate relief, ending rough sleeping sustainably requires action to address the structural causes of homelessness: the shortage of social and supported housing, affordability pressures in the private rented sector, and the lack of secure, ongoing revenue funding for the support people need to sustain tenancies and flourish.”

Cllr Morgan – Deputy Mayor of Liverpool City Region said: “This is another positive step and welcome signal from the Prime Minister about the direction of travel when it comes to supporting councils to address some of the most pressing issues facing our communities. The recognition that homelessness requires urgent action, alongside increased funding and a focus on support as well as accommodation, demonstrates a commitment to working with local authorities to deliver meaningful change. We particularly welcome the flexibility being given to local areas, allowing councils and local partners to tailor their response to the needs of their communities.”