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Andy Burnham has pledged to end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity, allocating an additional £340m over three years to replicate homelessness schemes rolled out in Greater Manchester, according to reports by the Guardian and the Daily Mail. Standing in Downing Street after taking office, Burnham stated that his first instruction as prime minister would be to tackle street homelessness, asserting that the issue is fixable if a government chooses to act.
Funding and Strategy Details for the National Homelessness Plan
Official sources cited by the Guardian indicate that the new government will channel an extra £340m—equivalent to £113m a year—from unused portions of the housing department’s budget into its national homelessness strategy. This funding is designed to deliver 1,200 new homes and support 3,000 people over five years, supplementing the existing £3.5bn allocation established by the previous administration to halve long-term rough sleeping rates. The strategy aims to emulate the “Everyone In” framework utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic and draws inspiration from Greater Manchester programs such as “A Bed Every Night” and “Housing First,” which supporters credit with reducing regional rough sleeping by two-thirds during Burnham’s first five years as mayor, according to the Guardian.
Scrutiny Over Greater Manchester Rough Sleeping Statistics
Political opponents and housing data have drawn sharp contrast regarding Burnham’s regional record. According to the Daily Mail, official annual rough sleeping snapshot data shows that street homelessness in Greater Manchester rose from 90 individuals in 2021 to 197 in 2025. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) figures cited by the Daily Mail further note approximately 360 rough sleepers across Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities in March 2026, up from 335 in March 2025. Critics point out that these figures place the city with the third-highest rate of homelessness in the country behind Birmingham and London, according to Shelter data.
Political Reactions and Opposition Responses
Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly criticized the prime minister’s announcement, questioning the financial sustainability of the pledge. According to the Daily Mail, Cleverly stated that there is precious little detail on how the policy will be paid for and demanded transparency on whether other MHCLG programs face spending cuts to cover the gap. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake similarly argued in Daily Mail reports that Burnham’s mayoral record does not stand up to scrutiny, pointing to rising local tax rates and past spending on cancelled infrastructure initiatives. Conversely, homelessness campaigners welcomed the pledge, telling the Guardian that the objective remains achievable given sufficient political will and financial backing.
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