Burnham pledges to end rough sleeping with £340m funding boost
The government allocates additional funds from the housing department’s unused budget, while critics point to rising street homelessness during Burnham’s mayoral tenure.
Andy Burnham has pledged to end rough sleeping in England in his first speech as prime minister, announcing an additional £340 million over three years to support the initiative. Speaking in front of Downing Street immediately after taking office, Burnham committed to getting people off the streets “at the earliest opportunity” by replicating homelessness schemes previously rolled out in Greater Manchester. The funding is sourced from unused parts of the housing department’s budget and aims to provide 1,200 new homes and support 3,000 people over five years.
The announcement coincides with a cabinet reshuffle in which Housing Secretary Steve Reed was sacked. Reed had overseen the previous government’s homelessness strategy, which allocated £3.5 billion with the goal of halving long-term rough sleeping rates. Burnham’s new commitment adds to this existing allocation, drawing parallels to the “Everyone In” policy enacted during the pandemic and echoing plans previously intended by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Supporters of the prime minister’s approach highlight the initial successes of his time as Greater Manchester mayor. During his first five years in office, rough sleeping in the region dropped by two-thirds, driven by policies such as “A Bed Every Night” and “Housing First.” Proponents argue that Burnham’s ability to force collaboration between ten local councils, including data-sharing initiatives and protections against eviction for minor misdemeanours, provides a viable model for national implementation.
However, the pledge has drawn sharp criticism regarding Burnham’s track record. Critics note that while there was early progress, street homelessness in Greater Manchester rose in each of the past four years of his mayoralty, leaving levels at three-quarters of what they were in 2017. Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly described the record as showing “initial success, then failure once his focus shifted,” suggesting the new funding might come at the expense of local projects.
Homelessness campaigners have welcomed the initiative, stating that the pledge can be met with sufficient money and political will. Officials indicate the government will work immediately with national and local bodies to implement the strategy. The move marks a significant shift in housing policy, attempting to scale local interventions to a national level despite scepticism from opponents who argue the prime minister has taken his focus off foundational policies in recent years.