Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a national drive to end long-term rough sleeping, with £442 million in funding, as part of his first instruction in office. The initiative aims to get everyone off the streets for Christmas.
Personal mission rooted in experience
Burnham, writing in The Mirror, recalled selling the Big Issue after being elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, which brought home the reality of being on the streets without a bed. He described ending rough sleeping as a moral mission, influenced by witnessing the effects of deindustrialisation in his youth.
He stressed that Britain's best moments, like the pandemic response, show a country that cares for people, and he wants to build a nation where no one is written off.
Funding and local leadership
The government will provide £442 million to support services working to get people off the streets. While everyone will be offered a route off the streets, local leaders will decide the kind of support their communities need, moving away from Westminster dictating solutions.
Burnham is asking leaders across society to play their part, drawing on lessons from Greater Manchester and the pandemic that collective action is essential. He concluded that together, Britain can put care of people back at the heart of who we are and bring back hope.
