Rough sleepers wary of Burnham pledge: ‘So you mean he has said some words?’

On drive to end rough sleeping, homeless people and charities say they have heard similar declarations before Andy Burnham calls on wider society to help end rough sleeping by Christmas As Andy Burnham set out his plan to end rough sleeping on Tuesday night, volunteers from homelessness charity Under One Sky were offering hot drinks, sandwiches, socks, underwear and soap to dozens of rough sleepers around Tottenham Court Road in central London.

Among those sleeping on the streets, the prime minister’s plan was met with widespread scepticism born from long familiarity with similar political declarations.

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