Government doubles rough sleeping funding to £874m, with pledge of a route off the streets for everyone by Christmas

The UK government is doubling funding for its programme to help people sleeping rough off the streets. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a further £432m on 25 October 2026.

How much money and what for

The new amount is due to be set out in detail in the Budget, to be delivered on Wednesday. Together with the earlier £442m, total investment will reach £874m.

The extra funding is meant to extend support beyond March 2027 and through to the end of this Parliament. According to the government, the aim is for help not to end with the winter, so that people leaving the streets can move into settled homes.

The first £442m was announced on 19 August 2026. It included £340m announced in July for homes for people sleeping rough long term, and £102m for immediate support this winter. The programme applies to England. The funding is also meant to help deliver more than 1,000 settled homes over three years.

The Christmas goal

The government says everyone sleeping rough will be offered a route off the streets, or wider support, before Christmas. Ending rough sleeping was Burnham's first pledge after taking office in July.

According to a Downing Street statement, outreach teams and new bedspaces are already operating in Coventry. In the coming weeks they are due to be rolled out in places including Plymouth and the London borough of Camden.

"Rough sleeping isn't a fact of life. It's a thing governments either choose to accept or don't," Burnham said in a government statement.

Downing Street summit

The announcement coincided with the first-ever Rough Sleeping Summit, which brought together businesses, charities and local leaders. Pledges included:

• the National Housing Federation, with housing associations, will identify at least 2,000 homes and bedspaces, including empty homes;
• Social Bite will partner with the government to expand its modular supported accommodation;
• the Salvation Army will work on social housing, modular accommodation and move-on options, including for people with complex needs;
• UnLtd and Key Fund will help create jobs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness;
• Virgin Media O2 will provide support with devices and connectivity, in partnership with the charity Refuge.

Chancellor John Healey acknowledged that this is a big ambition, but said the government will not back down from it.

What this means for you

The programme covers England. People who find themselves on the streets should be able to approach their local council or a homelessness charity for help. However, the sources do not set out any specific rules for foreign nationals, so eligibility depends on local authorities.