PM: Government money alone may not be enough to get rough sleepers off streets

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged the government to go beyond financial aid alone in tackling rough sleeping during the holidays, stating that broader societal involvement is crucial. During a visit to Alex's Place homeless facility in Newcastle, Burnham pledged to provide shelter to every rough sleeper by Christmas. He announced an additional £102 million from unspent budgets in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to aid immediate off-the-street initiatives, alongside £340 million allocated for long-term support for the next three years.

This funding is set to complement £340 million announced previously for new assistance in securing permanent accommodation for long-term rough sleepers within the next three years. Burnham, also pledging to donate 15% of his prime ministerial salary and an equal percentage from his earnings as an MP to homelessness charities and local organizations, called for a nationwide summit in the autumn to engage leaders from various sectors in discussing their roles in ending rough sleeping.

Despite acknowledging that not all rough sleepers might accept the offer, Burnham emphasized that the government's financial contribution might not suffice independently. He drew parallels to the pandemic's Everyone In scheme, which successfully reduced rough sleeping, asserting that a similar effort is achievable again this year.

Burnham defended his past as mayor of Greater Manchester, where schemes like "A Bed Every Night" initially reduced but later increased rough sleeping numbers due to Greater Manchester's status as a leading provider of support. The Prime Minister had previously vowed to eradicate long-term rough sleeping, though without a specific deadline, sparking criticism over the lack of a detailed delivery plan.

Homelessness charities welcomed the announcement as a significant step, while some critics highlighted the lack of tangible strategies in the pledge.