Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government press release re rough sleeping 20.07.26
July 21, 2026
You may have seen news coverage of our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, setting out his priorities yesterday. His first pledge was to “finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity.”
Below you can read the press release sent out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government addressing this pledge in more detail, and Housing Justice’s response to Mr Burnham’s plans.
MHCLG PRESS RELEASE
New PM says government can bring back hope to Britain, and launches drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity
• In his speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street the Prime Minister announced a new national effort to end rough sleeping, backed by record investment
• Prime Minister says government can bring back hope to Britain and rejects the claim that ending rough sleeping will take decades or that it can’t be done
• Prime Minister says the crisis has been caused by years of national government failure and Westminster turning a blind eye
• Mayors, councils, the NHS, public services and government departments will now be backed to provide urgent support for vulnerable people before the winter
The Prime Minister used his first speech in office to launch an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity, setting out a bold ambition to tackle one of the starkest injustices in the country. This will be backed from day one by an additional £340 million – taking overall funding to record levels.
The policy forms a key part of his pledge on the steps of Downing Street to help everyone to live well and build a more preventative state, investing in success rather than paying for failure. Crisis research shows that a year of rough sleeping costs an estimated £20,128 per person, versus £1,426 for a successful prevention intervention.
The Prime Minister rejects the notion that ending rough sleeping will take decades or that it can’t be done at all. The experience of ‘Everyone In’ during the pandemic, showed that with the right political will, it can be done. He is clear that the rough sleeping crisis has been caused by years of systemic failure in national policy. Westminster has too often turned a blind eye to rough sleeping, which has been all too apparent to local leaders. Ambitious local leaders will now be backed with the full support of central government.
Before walking up Downing Street to address the nation, the Prime Minister met people with experience of sleeping rough. He heard how it can trap people in a cycle of crisis, poor health and insecurity. He believes that thousands of people sleeping rough every night in our country is not inevitable, but a choice by politicians, and that he will take immediate action to change how the government treats the issue.
Urgent first steps will begin to help those sleeping rough over a long period to move into secure housing. This includes beginning the acquisition of suitable homes, identifying those most in need and starting to provide housing and support without delay.
The new funding is the first phase of investment in a wider five-year programme that will provide homes and support for thousands of the people facing the most severe and long-term homelessness. Further steps will be set out before the autumn.
This effort will benefit everyone: transforming the lives of people who have spent long periods on the streets, strengthening towns and communities, and reducing the pressure that repeated crisis interventions place on the NHS, the criminal justice system and other public services.
Local leaders will lead the delivery of the programme, building on proven local-led approaches that have helped to tackle rough sleeping in communities across the country. The new funding, which represents the opening investment, will provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“For too long, we’ve been told that ending rough sleeping will take decades or even that it’s impossible. I’m not having that.
“This is something a government can fix if it chooses to. Today, I’m choosing to.
“On my first day as Prime Minister, I’m announcing this government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity.
“We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local government with the investment needed to get it done.
“This is the kind of Britain I want us to be – a country where everyone has the security of a roof over their head, and where no one is left behind or written off. Let’s bring back hope.”
Notes to editors:
• The £340 million announced today represents the opening investment, funded from within uncommitted MHCLG budgets. It is expected to support at least 3,000 people who are currently sleeping rough long-term, over a five-year period.
• This is a capital and revenue housing-led programme both to deliver new accommodation and fund wraparound, multi-agency support to get people who have slept rough for the longest off the streets and to enable them to sustain their accommodation.
• The government has published the National Plan to End Homelessness, which is backed by £3.6 billion to support homelessness and rough sleeping support services. The new programme and funding (£340 million) announced today builds on that investment, taking the total to over £3.9 billion.
• Research on the cost of homelessness can be found here: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/cost-of-homelessness/at-what-cost-2015/
• Effective early intervention reduces demand on hospitals, policing and other public services. Research suggests preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year could save taxpayers around £370 million. Homelessness extends far beyond those sleeping on the streets. Record numbers of children are currently growing up in temporary accommodation, which is why this forms part of the government’s ongoing work to tackle homelessness, ending the unlawful use of bed and breakfasts for families and preventing people from reaching crisis point in the first place.
• Rough sleeping has been going up across the country since the pandemic for a range of reasons – including rising housing costs, pressures in temporary accommodation and wider economic challenges. Prior to the pandemic, levels of rough sleeping in Greater Manchester had been falling.
• The experience of Greater Manchester post-pandemic shows that if only one area takes significant action to end rough sleeping, there are knock on impacts from national government policies and different policies in neighbouring areas which led to increasing number of rough sleepers moving to GM in order to access GM support. Everyone In showed the most effective policy is when the whole country pulls together in one direction to end rough sleeping.
HOUSING JUSTICE RESPONSE FROM CEO BONNIE WILLIAMS:
“We warmly welcome the new Prime Minister’s commitment to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity and his recognition of the vital role that community-led solutions play in achieving this ambition.
“For decades, Housing Justice has worked alongside the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector, supporting a network of community-led homelessness services across England and Wales. Every day, our members and their volunteers provide emergency accommodation, practical, wraparound support that helps people move away from homelessness, build connections within their community and sustain their housing for the long term.
“We welcome today’s additional £340 million investment to provide housing and intensive support for people experiencing long-term rough sleeping. Stable housing is essential, but lasting change comes through trusted relationships, strong local partnerships and the support that helps people maintain their homes and avoid returning to crisis.
“Our community-led services are embedded in towns, cities and rural communities across the country and are uniquely placed to work alongside local authorities, health services and other partners to deliver sustainable, long-term solutions that both prevent and end homelessness.
“We look forward to working with the Government and partners across the sector to help turn this ambition into reality, ensuring that together we can build communities where everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life in a home and community where they belong.”
