The United Kingdom Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has pledged to help homeless military veterans secure accommodation before Christmas, announcing plans to ask councils across England to develop specific housing arrangements for former service personnel sleeping rough.

Burnham is expected to write personally to local authorities on Wednesday, November 11, which marks Armistice Day, urging them to work with charities and community organisations to ensure veterans are not left without shelter during the festive season.

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The initiative, announced by the Prime Minister’s Office on November 7, is supported by £8.7m in government funding for eight organisations across the United Kingdom to provide accommodation, employment assistance and healthcare support for veterans with complex needs.

The funding is intended to address challenges that can contribute to homelessness among former military personnel, including health conditions, addiction and difficulties securing employment.

Announcing the commitment, Burnham said the country had a responsibility to ensure that people who had served in the armed forces were not abandoned to life on the streets.

No one who has served our country should be left to sleep rough on our streets.

It is a simple principle and, from now on, I am setting it as an operating principle for the whole of government, national and local, he said.

He added that veterans deserved practical assistance rather than expressions of sympathy without meaningful support.

When they need help, the country owes them more than warm words.

It owes them a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one, Burnham stated.

The eight organisations expected to receive a share of the £8.7m allocation are Veteran Housing Scotland, Launchpad, Alabare, The Riverside Group, Wigan Council, Royal British Veterans Enterprise, SSAFA, The Armed Forces Charity, and Tom Harrison House.

The organisations will provide targeted assistance to veterans facing housing difficulties, with support extending beyond emergency accommodation to address the circumstances that may have contributed to their homelessness.

Burnham also called on councils already working with military charities to expand their efforts, saying the additional funding should help local authorities offer more effective assistance.

The government is encouraging veterans sleeping rough, as well as individuals supporting them, to contact the UK-wide Op FORTITUDE helpline on 0800 952 0774 for immediate access to accommodation and specialist services.

According to the government, the helpline has already helped more than 1,250 veterans secure housing.

The announcement forms part of Burnham’s wider commitment to ending rough sleeping across the country.

The government says an additional £874m has been committed to tackling homelessness, bringing its overall funding for the effort to a record £4.4bn.

The latest intervention also builds on existing efforts to address veteran homelessness.

In November 2025, the government announced an additional £12m for services supporting homeless veterans through its Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme.

Burnham’s interest in homelessness also predates his premiership. During his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he launched the A Bed Every Night initiative in November 2018, bringing together local authorities and charities to provide emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough.

The new commitment seeks to extend that emphasis on coordinated local support to former members of the armed forces across England, while providing additional funding to specialist organisations throughout the UK.

However, the announcement places considerable responsibility on local authorities to translate the funding and proposed plans into actual accommodation offers for veterans who need help.

For former service personnel facing homelessness, access to a safe place to stay, appropriate healthcare and employment assistance could provide an important route towards rebuilding their lives.

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Burnham’s stated ambition is that no veteran should be left sleeping rough, with councils and specialist organisations expected to work together to make that commitment a practical reality before Christmas.