Andy Burnham is right that we need to end rough sleeping once and for all. In 2026, in one of the richest countries in the world, no one should be forced to sleep on the street. But similar promises have been made before, and some people may doubt whether this can really be done.
Rough sleeping is just the tip of the iceberg
England is in the grip of a housing emergency. The number of people sleeping rough has reached over 4,500, more than doubling since 2010 – a 171% increase. These figures are a national disgrace, says Shelter CEO Sarah Elliott, writing for the Mirror.
But rough sleeping is only one form of homelessness. More than 176,000 children in England are stuck in unstable temporary accommodation – almost as many as live in Leeds. When a family becomes homeless, councils have a legal duty to provide somewhere to stay, but a lack of affordable social rent homes means families can be trapped in temporary accommodation for years.
At Shelter, we speak to thousands of people in a vicious cycle. Many have been moved miles away from their communities, and children share beds in cramped, often infested spaces. One mother, Alicia, has a six-year-old son who has never known a safe, stable home of his own.
Ending homelessness requires social homes
Ending rough sleeping alone is not enough. The only way to end the housing emergency is by building social homes – where rents are linked to local incomes. Burnham has pledged to build more, but last year only 12,000 were built. In 1967, nearly half (46%) of all new homes in England were for social rent, and 97% were delivered by councils. Councils have the local knowledge and determination to build, but they have been left carrying costs. Last year alone, councils spent £2.8 billion on temporary accommodation – money that could build permanent homes.
The political will is there. With Angela Rayner as Housing Secretary, the Government has someone who understands social housing. Andy Burnham must set his sights on ending homelessness for good. A new generation of social homes would provide millions of families with the stability they need to thrive. It’s a challenge, but we have done it before – by backing councils to build homes for their communities, we can do it again.
