Veterans shouldn't sleep rough this Christmas, Burnham says

No one who served in the UK armed forces should have to sleep on the streets this Christmas, Andy Burnham has said.

Downing Street said the prime minister will personally write to councils across England on Armistice Day (11 November) to urge them to draw up specific plans to offer accommodation for veterans sleeping rough ahead of the festive period.

He will say that, going forward, national and local government should work under the "simple principle" that "no one who has served our country should ever be left to sleep rough on our streets".

Burnham will ask local authorities to use part of the additional £874m already announced to tackle homelessness specifically for housing veterans.

"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 issued on Saturday.

"When they need help, the country owes them more than warm words. It owes them a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one."

The PM will ask councils to work with local organisations and charities to tackle homelessness amongst veterans.

Downing Street said an additional £8.7m in funding would be allocated to eight organisations across the UK to help housing providers offer assistance to veterans with complex needs, including those with health or addiction problems.

Among them are Veteran Housing Scotland, Launchpad and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

The pledge, announced ahead of Remembrance Sunday, is part of Burnham's wider plan to offer everyone currently sleeping rough a bed this winter.

The most recent official figures estimated that there were 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England - a record high. The number of people recorded as sleeping rough has been on the rise since 2021.

The government has committed £4.4bn in total to end rough sleeping.

Burnham previously faced criticism from the Conservatives for failing to end rough sleeping while he was the mayor of Greater Manchester.

He argued that Manchester's scheme attracted rough sleepers from the surrounding regions, adding that "it's only if everywhere does it at the same level that you can actually end rough sleeping".

The prime minister is urging any veterans who are sleeping rough, or those supporting them, to call a UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774 to be connected directly to housing and other specialist support.