Burnham vows to house all rough sleepers by Christmas despite huge challenge

At a recent council briefing, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham unveiled a fresh drive to get people “in from the cold” ahead of the holidays, noting that solving rough sleeping involves more than just supplying roofs.

Burnham emphasized that homelessness is linked to health, mental‑health and addiction problems, and that a durable answer must pair housing with a range of support services. He cautioned that the undertaking is enormous, yet positioned it as a regional priority as winter draws near.

The goal set by the mayor is to house every rough sleeper in the city by Christmas, hinging on cooperation among the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, local charities, health providers and the police. Although the precise count of those sleeping outdoors remains undisclosed, recent England‑wide trends reveal a post‑pandemic surge in visible homelessness, heightening the plan’s urgency.

Earlier, Greater Manchester rolled out the “Everyone In” scheme amid the peak of the COVID‑19 crisis, temporarily placing thousands into accommodation. Since that effort, funding shortfalls and growing demand have stretched the system, leading Burnham to advocate for a refreshed multi‑agency push.

Burnham noted the program will be evaluated after the holiday season to gauge results and inform a longer‑term plan. Housing advocates praised the focus on integrated services, whereas some critics warn that without ongoing funding the improvements could be fleeting. The mayor’s commitment underscores the political pressure on local bodies to tackle rough sleeping before the coldest months arrive.