Andy Burnham has pledged that his government would end rough sleeping nationwide, backed by £340m for homes and intensive support, but critics have pointed to his record as Greater Manchester mayor. Rough sleeping there is lower than when he took office in 2017, yet it has risen sharply since 2021, raising questions about whether a national promise can be delivered.

Government figures recorded 197 people sleeping rough in Greater Manchester on a night in autumn 2025, down 26 per cent from 268 in 2017 but more than double the 90 recorded in 2021. The new funding is intended to provide 1,200 homes and support at least 3,000 long-term rough sleepers over five years, alongside £3.6bn previously announced under the National Plan to End Homelessness. A local homelessness charity said Burnham’s efforts had reduced numbers initially, but that Covid-19, the cost-of-living crisis and limited mayoral powers had affected progress.