More than 75 homelessness organisations have signed an open letter calling for the scale up of Housing First.
Homelessness in 2026 is at a record high. Government statistics show concerning number of figures that rank the highest since records began, including rough sleeping and the amount of families living in temporary accommodation. Figures from August 2025 show 4,793 people were homeless on England’s streets, a record high and a 171% increase since 2010 when official records began. These figures are gathered by one-night counts and estimates from frontline workers, and often considered to be an underestimate when related to how many people are truly sleeping on the streets. London keep a track of their own rough sleeping count, which is considered to be a more accurate portrayal. Between April 2023 and March 2024, an estimated 13,231 people were seen sleeping rough in London, a record high and a 10% increase on the previous year.
78 CEOs and senior leaders of homelessness organisations from across England have today written to Andy Burnham calling for strong personal leadership from him as Prime Minister, and active buy-in from all branches of Government to implement a Housing First philosophy.
A recent report backed the groups claims with it’s own call for the government to prioritise a housing-led approach to tackling homelessness. The report calls for the incorporation of Housing First into the methodology of a wider housing-led approach, focusing on ensuring those recovering from homelessness have access to their own shelter as a first step rather than the final one. The Housing First strategy has seen positive results both abroad and in the UK (in pilot form), reducing homelessness as well as long-term costs and expenses.
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The homelessness leaders praise the progress of the Housing First approach that Burnham has introduced in Greater Manchester and argue that this could be “a seminal moment in our nation’s efforts to turn the tide on shamefully high levels of homelessness.”
The letter is co-ordinated by Homeless Link, the membership organisation who represent homelessness organisations across England. Signatories include Crisis UK, Change Grow Live, St Mungo’s and the Connection at St Martins. Signatories have offered to meet and support Burnham to define and implement the Housing First philosophy which they say could be transformative.
Fiona Colley, Director of Social Change at Homeless Link, commented: “The homelessness sector is excited to see someone become Prime Minister who has a strong personal track record of championing homelessness reduction and some very real, on the ground experience of supporting projects that work.”
“The number of people experiencing homelessness across England remains stubbornly far too high. We hope that the new Prime Minister will truly spearhead a cross government concerted effort which really tackles the underlying problems and breaks the cycle of homelessness for good.”
