Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to ask councils across England to provide accommodation offers to military veterans sleeping rough before Christmas, alongside £8.7 million in funding for specialist support organisations. The announcement was made on 7 November 2026 ahead of Remembrance Sunday. He intends to write to councils on Armistice Day, 11 November.
Councils asked to prepare plans
Local authorities will be asked to develop specific plans to identify veterans sleeping rough and offer accommodation before Christmas, working with charities and housing providers. This is a request to councils, not a newly enacted statutory obligation or a guarantee that everyone will be permanently housed by Christmas.
Funding and delivery
Downing Street says an additional £874 million has been committed to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, bringing the overall funding cited by ministers to £4.4 billion. Councils are being asked to use part of this existing funding for targeted veterans plans. Separately, £8.7 million will be allocated to eight organisations through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme.
Eight organisations to receive support
The named recipients are Veteran Housing Scotland, Launchpad, Alabaré, The Riverside Group, Wigan Council, Royal British Veterans Enterprise, SSAFA and Tom Harrison House. The announcement does not specify individual allocations. Funding is intended to help veterans facing complex housing, health, addiction and employment challenges.
Accommodation offers rather than a housing guarantee
In an ITV News interview, Burnham said he could guarantee an offer of accommodation to people sleeping rough who request it. That is distinct from guaranteeing that all homeless veterans will be in permanent housing by Christmas. Actual outcomes depend on local implementation and available accommodation.
Veterans housing helpline
Veterans sleeping rough, or people supporting them, can contact the UK-wide Op FORTITUDE helpline on 0800 952 0774. Downing Street says the service has already supported more than 1,250 veterans into housing.
Next steps
The Prime Minister is expected to write to councils on Wednesday 11 November. The Government has not provided a current total of veterans sleeping rough or a count of accommodation places that will be available. Those figures and the delivery of local plans will be important measures of progress.