Homelessness charities have welcomed new prime minister Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping, made in his first speech outside Downing Street, but cautioned that he must also tackle the less visible problem of "hidden homelessness" affecting families and children across the UK. Burnham said ending rough sleeping would be his government's first priority, rejecting the idea that it would take decades, and promised immediate action combining national and local government with new investment, including funding to help at least 3,000 rough sleepers.

Official figures published in February recorded 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England, a record high and the fourth consecutive annual rise. Shelter's Helen MacNamara praised the commitment, citing Burnham's record in Manchester, but warned that 176,000 children currently lack a permanent home, with many families living in hotels, B&Bs or overcrowded HMOs. Government figures show 134,210 households were affected by hidden homelessness at the end of December 2025, while Crisis estimates around 208,600 households experience it nightly, up 30% since 2020; the number of children in temporary accommodation rose to 176,130, up 6% year on year.