UK doubles rough‑sleeping funding to £874 m, pledging routes off the streets by Christmas

The UK government will increase its rough‑sleeping package from £442 m to £874 m, adding a further £432 m in the latest Budget. The pledge, announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the first Rough Sleeping Summit, commits that every rough sleeper in England will have a physical route into accommodation by Christmas and ongoing support through the remainder of the Parliament. Initial funding has enabled specialist outreach teams and new bed spaces in places such as Coventry, Plymouth and Camden, with plans to roll out further provision. The National Housing Federation is working with housing associations to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bed spaces, though questions remain about the suitability and capacity of these sites. Official figures estimate 4,793 people were sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025. While homelessness organisations welcome the focus on rough sleeping, many call for further measures, including the restoration of local housing subsidies.