Rough sleeping in England rises as Burnham's pledge to end it is at risk of being missed

Summary

Rough sleeping in England is rising, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham's pledge to end it is in danger of being missed, according to an editorial. Official figures show 8,748 people were sleeping rough in England in June, about 1,000 more than in January. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland collect data separately. The editorial says an acute shortage of suitable housing and the latest round of early prisoner releases make the target harder to reach, even as winter night shelters open across the UK. It argues that energetic mayors and councils can help people rebuild their lives, but that the underlying affordability crisis also needs tackling. It notes that rough sleepers, most of them men, often face family breakdown, substance misuse, mental health difficulties and prison, and that their life expectancy is drastically curtailed.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   10 Nov 2026, 19:19 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian's editorial says Burnham's target to end rough sleeping is in danger of being missed, citing 8,748 rough sleepers in England in June, about 1,000 more than in January.