Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to work to "get everyone in for Christmas" as part of a national drive to end rough sleeping, echoing the pandemic-era Everyone In scheme that brought thousands off the streets.
The Government has committed to "offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas," though no defined duration for local authorities has been set, and it is understood that not every rough sleeper might take up the offer.
Record high numbers
Latest annual national statistics, published in February, estimated 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England—a new record high and the fourth annual increase in a row. At that stage, 43% of all rough sleepers were in London and the South East.
Newer data for London published last month showed a 10% year-on-year drop, with 3,959 people sleeping rough in the capital between April and June this year, down from 4,392 in the same period in 2025.
Funding and summit
An additional £102 million from uncommitted budgets within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will go towards immediate routes off the streets this winter, including an £8.4 million boost to the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund. This is alongside the £340 million announced last month for long-term rough sleepers.
Mr Burnham will host a first-of-its-kind national summit this autumn to bring together leaders from business, finance, charities, health, faith communities and more to discuss ending rough sleeping.
MHCLG said areas facing the greatest pressures will get the largest share of support, with mayors expected to work alongside councils to lead local action.
Reactions and criticism
Homelessness charities welcomed the announcement as a "strong start," with Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliott calling it a "game-changing move," while Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said it puts the country on a path to an "historic milestone."
Opposition critics, including Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly and Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, said the plan lacked detail and substance. Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Gideon Amos said "sticking plasters won't fix the homelessness crisis" and called for a legal duty to provide somewhere safe to stay.
