PM announces drive to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas

Some 3,959 people slept rough in the capital between April and June this year, research shows (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Archive Y. Áine Fox 2 minutes ago Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his vow to end rough sleeping.

The Prime Minister is attempting a repeat of efforts during the coronavirus pandemic when the Everyone In scheme resulted in thousands of rough sleepers across England being taken in off the streets.

The latest annual national statistics, published by the Government in February, estimated there were 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England.

Andy Burnham visited homelessness charity The Passage in London on the day he became Prime Minister (Chris Furlong/PA) PA Wire This was a new record high and the fourth annual increase in a row.

At that stage 43% of all people sleeping rough were in London and the South East.

Newer data for London published last month showed a 10% year-on-year drop in the number of rough sleepers in the capital, prompting a charity boss to insist ending rough sleeping in London and beyond is “within reach”.

Some 3,959 people slept rough in the capital between April and June this year, research from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) showed, down from 4,392 in the same period in 2025.

This week, the Government has committed to “offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas”, although there is no defined duration as to how long local authorities might be expected to take people in for, and it is understood to be accepted that not every rough sleeper might take up the offer.

Mr Burnham has also said he will host what is being described as a first-of-its-kind national summit this autumn to “bring together leaders from across society – from business, finance, charities, health, faith communities and more – to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping”.

The Prime Minister, who pledged as his “first instruction” on day one in No 10 “to end rough sleeping in our country”, suggested people living on the streets has begun to become accepted over the years.

He said: “No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.

“I won’t accept it. That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.

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