Andy Burnham has announced a new plan to address rough sleeping in England, an initiative he has dubbed 'Everyone in for Christmas.' The proposal aims to house individuals experiencing homelessness, drawing inspiration from the "Everyone In" scheme that provided shelter to thousands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new plan includes an additional £102 million in funding, bringing Burnham's total commitment to tackling rough sleeping to £442 million since he became prime minister. This funding is intended to be fully covered within the Ministry of Housing's budget. The initiative seeks to provide immediate shelter for those on the streets and secure over 1,000 permanent homes within the next three years. Alongside housing, the funding will also support intensive wraparound services, including psychiatric care and drug and alcohol treatment, to assist individuals in rebuilding their lives.
Burnham plans to convene a conference in the autumn, bringing together businesses, charities, and faith groups to collaborate on solutions. Local councils and mayors will be central to developing localized strategies, with areas facing the most significant challenges receiving the greatest support. "No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we've seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it. I won't accept it," Burnham stated.
The "Everyone In" initiative, launched in March 2020, housed approximately 37,000 people. According to a report by the charity Shelter, about a quarter of those individuals secured settled accommodation, defined as housing lasting at least six months.
Charitable organizations have responded positively to the announcement. Jasmine Basran, head of policy at Crisis, welcomed the plan, expressing belief in the possibility of ending rough sleeping. However, she also emphasized the need for long-term interventions to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Basran urged cross-governmental collaboration, highlighting that individuals being discharged from hospitals or care settings are often ending up on the streets.
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, described Burnham's pledge as a "game-changing move." While acknowledging that addressing visible homelessness is a significant first step, she called for action on increasing the supply of council housing to assist those in temporary accommodation.
However, the plan has also faced criticism. The shadow housing secretary questioned Burnham's past efforts as Manchester mayor, stating he promised to end rough sleeping but failed due to insufficient action. James Cleverly suggested that families might anticipate tax increases if Labour does not clarify which other programs would be cut to fund this initiative. Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Gideon Amos argued that temporary measures are insufficient and that without a long-term strategy, individuals may return to the streets after the initial attention fades. He urged Burnham to commit to building 150,000 social homes annually, a target set by the Liberal Democrats. Richard Tice, Deputy Reform UK leader, also criticized Burnham's previous work on homelessness and characterized the new government plans as a "vague announcement with no substance" used for political gain.