New Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises to end rough sleeping in UK – this is how he’s done in Greater Manchester

Andy Burnham has pledged to end rough sleeping across the country in his first speech as Prime Minister.

Addressing the nation, Mr Burnham set out his key aims, promising a 10-year plan for Britain alongside a new political and economic model.

Ending rough sleeping was one of the first priorities mentioned by the new PM as he spoke to the country from outside 10 Downing Street in London.

He said: “I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction – to end rough sleeping in our country.

“It’s about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of government. I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me.”

As Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham vowed to end rough sleeping in the region by 2020.

Data shows he made major progress towards that goal initially.

He set up a scheme in 2018 called ‘A Bed Every Night’ to get people off the streets by creating emergency accommodation and support, donating 15 per cent of his mayoral salary.

It led to a huge drop in the number of rough sleepers in Greater Manchester, from 268 people in 2017 to 90 in 2021.

Despite progress, rough sleeping did not end in the region, and in recent years figures show the issue is getting worse, with 197 people recorded as sleeping rough in 2025.

Compared to rough sleeping in England though, Greater Manchester is performing better.

The number of people rough sleeping in England fell from 4,751 in 2017 to a low of 2,443 in 2021.

The national figures have also been rising since then, but by more than in Greater Manchester, with the total in England now higher than in 2017 at 4,793.

Last year, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority announced it would increase bed spaces available through A Bed Every Night from 550 to more than 600 in April 2025.

As mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham said at the time: “The truth of the matter is that the grip of the housing crisis is still tightening every year across our city-region.

“Our own research in Greater Manchester shows that we’re spending at least £75 million every year on renting temporary accommodation across the city-region, and we only get 42pc of that back via housing benefit.

“The only solution we have to fix this shortfall is by building a supply of truly affordable, social and council housing.

“Our Housing First approach provides a good, safe home for those who need it. Paired with wraparound support services and the funding we’ve received from this government into social housing, Greater Manchester’s shown that a preventative approach works.

“We want to ease the financial strain on our local authorities and most importantly give our residents what they need: a healthy home for all by 2038.”