Government sets aim of a route off the streets for every rough sleeper by Christmas

The UK government is set to double its funding for rough sleeping in England, with the aim of giving every person sleeping rough a route off the streets by Christmas. The BBC reported on 25 October 2026 that total investment in the plan will reach £874m.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham made ending rough sleeping one of his first promises on entering Downing Street. He announced a £442m package for emergency accommodation and practical support.

No 10 indicated that a further £432m will be added to the initiative in Wednesday's Budget. The additional money comes on the eve of the first Rough Sleeping Summit at Downing Street, which is due to be held on Monday, 26 October. The total extends support beyond March 2027 to the end of the current Parliament, the period before the next general election.

The commitment is understood to be that every rough sleeper will either be able to move into accommodation by Christmas, or be offered support to prevent them sleeping rough. More than 30 organisations have pledged support for the plan, including commercial businesses and charities. The National Housing Federation is working with housing associations, non-profit landlords, to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bed spaces. Some of these could come from empty properties brought back into use.

Official figures estimated that 4,793 people were sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England. The funding and the Christmas commitment apply to England only, as homelessness policy is devolved and set separately in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Leaders from 40 organisations across the housing and homelessness sector have signed an open letter. They call on the government to restore Local Housing Allowance rates, the housing benefit paid to private renters, so that they reflect local rents.