The Government has announced an additional £432 million for its rough sleeping programme in England, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying everyone sleeping rough should be offered a route off the streets or wider support before Christmas 2026.
The funding, announced by Downing Street on 25 October, is due to be detailed in Wednesday’s Budget. It would bring investment behind the Prime Minister’s rough sleeping commitment to £874 million, including an initial £442 million already allocated to the programme.
Funding intended to extend help beyond winter
Downing Street says the additional money is intended to keep support running beyond March 2027 and through to the end of the current Parliament. The initial programme supports local authorities and mayoral authorities to provide immediate accommodation routes, outreach and longer-term housing assistance.
According to official programme guidance, the original £442 million package includes £255.5 million in revenue funding for routes off the streets and associated support, £178 million in capital funding for settled accommodation, and £8.4 million for the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund.
Downing Street summit seeks homes and practical support
The Prime Minister is convening a Rough Sleeping Summit involving charities, businesses, housing associations and local leaders. The National Housing Federation will work with housing associations to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bedspaces, including empty properties that might be brought back into use. Identifying potential places does not mean that 2,000 homes have already been secured or occupied.
Other pledges include support from Social Bite and the Salvation Army for accommodation options, employment and enterprise initiatives, digital connectivity assistance, and charitable funding. The Government says specialist outreach teams and new bedspaces are operating in Coventry, with further provision planned for Plymouth and Camden.
Christmas pledge is an offer of support, not a guarantee of permanent housing
Burnham's stated ambition is that everyone sleeping rough should be offered a route off the streets or appropriate wider support before Christmas. That is not a guarantee that every person will accept an offer or move into permanent housing by the deadline.
The Government says longer-term accommodation and wraparound support will be needed to prevent people returning to the streets. The additional £432 million has been announced ahead of the Budget; the full spending details are still to be set out formally.