Burnham to urge councils to house veterans sleeping rough before Christmas

Andy Burnham will urge councils in England to draw up plans to house veterans sleeping rough before Christmas, as part of a wider government push to get people off the streets this winter.

The prime minister will write to local authorities on Armistice Day, 11 November, asking them to use part of £874m in previously announced homelessness funding specifically for veterans. He will also ask councils to work with charities and local organisations.

“People who stepped forward prepared to put their lives on the line for the rest of us should never lack a roof over their head,” Burnham said in a statement. He said veterans who needed help were owed “a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one”.

Downing Street said a further £8.7m would go to eight organisations across the UK to help housing providers support veterans with complex needs, including health or addiction problems. The recipients include Veteran Housing Scotland, Launchpad and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

The pledge comes ahead of Remembrance Sunday and forms part of Burnham’s plan to offer a bed this winter to everyone currently sleeping rough. The latest official snapshot counted 4,793 people sleeping rough in England on a single night in autumn 2025, the highest figure recorded. Rough sleeping has risen since 2021.

Veterans who are sleeping rough, and people supporting them, are being urged to call a UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774 for housing and specialist support.