Burnham’s homelessness pledge to ‘get everyone in for Christmas’ in jeopardy
Summary
Andy Burnham’s pledge to ensure rough sleepers in England have a safe route off the streets by Christmas is at risk as homelessness rises and housing remains scarce. Government figures show 8,748 people were sleeping rough in England in June, while the government says its offer may include support services rather than accommodation for everyone.Key Facts
- England had 8,748 rough sleepers in June, the highest figure since November 2025.
- The number of people sleeping rough rose by nearly 1,000 between January and June.
- By the end of June, 15% of rough sleepers had been found accommodation, the lowest share since August 2025.
- Homelessness minister Florence Eshalomi said the government hopes to offer every rough sleeper a bed by Christmas but faces a shortage of suitable housing.
- Eshalomi said a route off the streets could involve accommodation or a plan for mental health or substance-use support.
- A record 135,600 households in England were in temporary accommodation at the end of March 2026, about 90% more than a decade earlier.
- Burnham announced £442 million in funding for a drive to get people off the streets by Christmas, followed by another £432 million for support starting in March 2027.
- Councils cite a shortage of affordable homes, high demand for temporary accommodation, and frozen local housing allowance as factors driving homelessness.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
