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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/20/andy-burnham-pledges-end-rough-sleeping-homelessness-prime-minister-first-speech>
"Andy Burnham has promised to end rough sleeping in England in his first pledge
as prime minister, allocating an additional £340m over three years as he seeks
to replicate the homelessness schemes he rolled out in Greater Manchester.
Speaking in front of Downing Street immediately after becoming prime minister,
Burnham said he would try to get people off the streets “at the earliest
opportunity”.
The announcement was welcomed by homelessness campaigners, who say the pledge
can be met with enough money and political will.
The prime minister’s critics, however, greeted the promise with scepticism,
pointing out that despite having set out a similar goal as Greater Manchester
mayor, Burnham had overseen four years of rising street homelessness.
Burnham said on Monday: “On my first day as prime minister, I’m announcing this
government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK
at the earliest opportunity.
“We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local government
with the investment needed to get it done.”
Officials said the government would now put an extra £340m into its
homelessness strategy – equivalent to £113m a year – which would come from
unused parts of the housing department’s budget.
They said the money would pay for 1,200 new homes and help support 3,000 people
over five years.
The money comes on top of £3.5bn, the previous government’s allocation for its
homelessness strategy, which ministers said at the time was designed to halve
the rates of long-term rough sleeping."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
