£432 Million to Sustain Homelessness Support After July Cuts
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the funding at a Downing Street summit, aiming to keep people housed beyond the Christmas target.
By James Brooks ·
The Prime Minister announced a funding package of £432 million on Monday to sustain homelessness support into next year. The money is intended to back a commitment made in July to end rough sleeping and provide a bed for everyone in need by Christmas.
The announcement followed a trend of service closures earlier this year. Basis Sunderland, a drop-in housing support service, shut its doors in July due to a lack of funding. Martin Fletcher, 61, relied on that charity after spending more than 20 years homeless. He said the staff did not bombard him with forms and helped him secure accommodation in Sunderland in 2024.
Burnham hosted a summit at Downing Street to address the issue. He stated that the event brought together businesses, charities, and local leaders to ensure the solution lasts. Charities had warned that people might return to the streets after the initial Christmas push.
Amy Bell, 37, spent seven years street homeless between 2013 and 2020 while struggling with heroin addiction. She described a moment in 2020 when council workers discarded her tent and belongings as litter. She secured a place in a hostel by borrowing a phone from a Citizens Advice centre. Bell said the hostel was the key to her recovery, despite the system often banning people with addiction problems.
Bell criticized the current system for relying on apps and digital access. She noted that homeless people often sell phones to survive, making digital-only support difficult to access. She argued that removing bureaucracy is necessary to allow people to receive help from real-life personnel.
Tony, who became homeless after a prison release in 2024, highlighted the gap in support for those leaving custody. He was advised to contact a council team on his release day but had nowhere to go. He ended up sleeping in a tent in the woods before finding supported accommodation through the Salvation Army. Tony said accommodation discussions began only 10 days before his release.
Some individuals have moved from England to Scotland to access support. Scotland abolished the priority needs test in 2012. Crisis, a homelessness charity, says Scotland has some of the most progressive homelessness rights in the world. The government faces pressure to address rising numbers of people released from prison into homelessness.
