In a stark reminder of the housing crisis, England recorded 8,748 rough sleepers in June, the highest figure since November 2025. The number of people sleeping on the streets rose by almost 1,000 between January and June, according to government statistics.
Labour’s Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, pledged to “get everyone in for Christmas,” a goal that now faces serious obstacles. Homelessness Minister Florence Eshalomi admitted that the government hopes to offer a bed to every rough sleeper by Christmas, but the chronic shortage of suitable housing makes that ambition difficult to achieve.
Only 15 % of rough sleepers were housed by the end of June, the lowest proportion since August 2025. Councils across England are struggling to meet the growing demand for temporary and affordable accommodation, while a long‑term freeze on local housing allowance has left many low‑income households unable to afford market rents.
Eshalomi explained that the government will provide a “route off the street” for anyone who wants it, which may include accommodation, mental‑health support, or substance‑misuse programmes. She emphasized that the offer of a bed will be available, but people cannot be forced off the streets.
Additional pressures include the early‑release scheme for prisoners, which can leave offenders without stable housing, and a surge in no‑fault evictions before the practice was banned on 1 May. At the end of March 2026, 135,600 households were living in temporary accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels.
Source: The Guardian World
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