'Everyone in for Christmas' - Burnham unveils rough sleeping plan

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has announced a plan to house every rough sleeper in England by Christmas as part of a £442 million package. This follows his pledge to end rough sleeping when he became Prime Minister in July. The emergency accommodation will also provide practical support for health needs, drawing inspiration from the successful "Everyone In" scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic that housed thousands of rough sleepers.

This initiative includes an additional £102 million in funding, bringing Burnham's total commitment to tackle rough sleeping to £442 million since his tenure as Prime Minister. The funding is fully covered within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It aims to provide over 1,000 homes over the next three years and provide intensive support, including psychiatric and drug and alcohol services, to help people rebuild their lives.

Burnham emphasized his belief that no one should be forced to sleep rough, stating that rough sleeping can often cost more to the state due to individuals frequently needing medical and police services. He appealed to charities and faith organizations to help ensure that everyone who needs assistance is offered accommodation.

The plan includes various types of accommodation such as shared flats, B&Bs, temporary refuges, and supported lodgings. Burnham further pledged to donate 15% of his prime minister's salary to homelessness causes, following his decision to give 15% of his MP salary to local charities. Despite the criticism from the Conservatives regarding the lack of detail on how the funding will be used, Burnham remains optimistic, drawing from the success of previous efforts and the potential to address homelessness effectively.