Speaking ahead of the meeting, which will bring together charities and businesses, Burnham said: \u201cRough sleeping isn\u2019t a fact of life. It\u2019s a thing governments either choose to accept or don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t accept it. That\u2019s why we\u2019re doubling funding so that people aren\u2019t just offered a safe route off the streets this winter but have that same support right through the rest of this parliament too.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we can\u2019t do it alone. If we\u2019re going to end rough sleeping, we need every part of society behind us on this. So today we\u2019re bringing together businesses, charities and local leaders in Downing Street to make sure this is a solution that lasts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burnham\u2019s mission to end rough sleeping is already under way with just two months to go before his deadline. There are specialist outreach teams and new accommodation spaces operating in Coventry, and further provision is being rolled out in places including Plymouth and Camden over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
The additional funding is being provided in an attempt to solve the problem of rough sleeping in the longer term. As mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham introduced schemes such as A Bed Every Night to offer emergency accommodation, but while the number of rough sleepers fell, it then began to increase again.<\/p>\n
Burnham has previously said this was because \u201cwe were the only place providing that level of support and, understandably, people then travelled to Greater Manchester to access that support\u201d.<\/p>\n
He has said ending rough sleeping across the country will only be possible \u201cif all areas are pulling in the same direction, and that\u2019s what this funding is designed to achieve\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792978930_819_1920.jpg\")
Will Andy Burnham get rough sleepers off streets by Christmas? \u2013 The Latest<\/p>\n
The prime minister\u2019s rough sleeping summit on Monday will bring together businesses, charities, housing providers and local leaders as they attempt to create more lasting changes.<\/p>\n
Alongside the government, other organisations are making pledges towards solving the problem, with the National Housing Federation working with housing associations to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bed spaces, including empty properties that could be brought back into use.<\/p>\n
Virgin Media O2 will provide practical digital support to frontline organisations, while the charities St Mungo\u2019s and Haircuts4Homeless will work with L\u2019Or\u00e9al on hair salons and wellbeing provision for those who have been sleeping rough.<\/p>\n
Rayner, pictured with Burnham at a homeless accommodation centre in Newcastle this year, said ending rough sleeping was a \u2018big ambition\u2019. Photograph: Lauren Hurley\/No 10 Downing Street<\/p>\n
Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, said it was a \u201cbig ambition\u201d and the government would \u201cnot back down from making sure everyone has the offer of a route off the streets this Christmas\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe first step is giving people a roof over their head and freedom from the nightly struggle to find somewhere safe to sleep. But Christmas is only the beginning and that\u2019s why we will keep working together to tackle the root causes of homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The homelessness charity Shelter welcomed the announcement. Its acting CEO, Mairi MacRae, said the funding showed \u201cthe government understands that a safe home is not a privilege, it is a necessity\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, the Conservatives dismissed the move, with Katie Lam, the shadow housing secretary, accusing the government of wanting to spend too much money on ending rough sleeping.<\/p>\n