Andy Burnham pledged to tackle rough sleeping by Christmas as his first major policy as Prime Minister, by offering every person sleeping rough in England a route off the streets.
There were multiple other pledges in the news, backed by a £442 million national drive, which includes £340 million for long-term housing and support, plus £102 million for medical care and addiction services.
But the Christmas date was the headline pledge – and on World Homeless Day this piece will aim to clear up some of the misconceptions.
Myth: Every rough sleeper will be offered a route off the streets by Christmas 2026 – which means rough sleeping will end
A: No. Rough sleeping is a dynamic issue and new people can become homeless at any time due to factors such as relationship breakdown, financial hardship, ill health, domestic abuse or other life events.
The commitment is about ensuring that anyone found sleeping rough is offered support, accommodation options where appropriate.
So, it is likely that some people will still be found sleeping rough; the ambition is not that rough sleeping ceases to exist overnight, but that nobody is left without an offer of help or a route off the streets.
Myth: This is simply moving people out of sight rather than solving homelessness
A: No. The focus is on helping people achieve sustainable outcomes, not simply moving them from one place to another. Many people sleeping rough have complex support needs that require long-term solutions, including housing, health, addiction and employment support.
Myth: Rough sleepers will be housed inside Peterborough
A: Our aim is to accommodate people with a local connection to Peterborough within the city wherever possible. Keeping people close to local support services, healthcare, employment opportunities and personal support networks gives them the best chance of successfully moving away from rough sleeping and sustaining their accommodation.
We cannot always say rough sleepers will always be housed in Peterborough, or outside Peterborough if they are not from here - but generally they would be expected to be housed in the area in which they have a connection.
Myth: Everyone will accept accommodation or support
A: The offer remains available, but ultimately people cannot be forced to accept accommodation or services. We legally cannot – and morally should not – force people into accommodation and make them stay there. Our dedicated outreach teams will continue to engage with individuals, build trust and encourage them to access the support available to them, at all hours of the day.
To find our more about our outreach team please visit: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/housing/rough-sleeper-support-services
We work closely with the many partners who make up our local Safer off the Streets Peterborough Partnership, to connect people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping with safe accommodation and support services.
Myth: It’s not realistic to think every rough sleeper can be helped by Christmas 2026
A: It is an ambitious target, but ambition is necessary if we are to make meaningful progress. The key commitment is that everyone identified as sleeping rough is offered support and a route away from the streets. Achieving lasting change often requires ongoing engagement and partnership working.
Myth: The council will have to help the rough sleepers on its own
A: Untrue – alongside all the work that our partners within Safer off the Streets achieve there is also funding from central government.
As one example, the council has been awarded additional funds through the Rough Sleeping Programme, administered by the Combined Authority on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
This will deliver accommodation and support services for people who are sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping. The proposed programme comprises accommodation as well as holistic support with more news in the coming weeks.
Myth: The council has no strategic vision for dealing with rough sleeping
A: Our rough sleeper strategy for 2027-2031 has been published in draft form and is currently going through stages of approval.
It will emphasise early prevention, and introduce a "trusted person" model for individuals fleeing domestic abuse so they do not have to repeat their story across multiple separate appointments.
Myth: Residents will still see people sleeping rough, and this will mean the initiative has failed
A: Not necessarily. A person may, have very recently become homeless, may be awaiting accommodation, or may not yet have engaged with support services. The important difference is that there should be a rapid response, with outreach and support available to help them move away from rough sleeping as quickly as possible.
Myth: Rough sleeping will be completely eradicated in the future
A: Rough sleeping is influenced by a wide range of social, economic and personal factors, so new instances can arise at any time. The goal is to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurring by ensuring that people receive help quickly and have access to the support they need to rebuild their lives.
The commitment is not that nobody will ever be seen sleeping rough again. The commitment is that nobody should be left sleeping rough without an offer of help and a route off the streets.
Q: How can I report myself or someone I know who is rough sleeping?
A: If you know someone who is sleeping rough, please make a referral through Streetlink - referrals are sent directly to our outreach team, who monitor reports throughout the working day and respond quickly.
If you are sleeping rough and need housing support yourself, you can refer directly via our Housing Advice section or call us on 01733 864064.