Burnham rough-sleeper pledge at risk from failures in housing ex-prisoners, charity warns
Summary
A charity warns that Andy Burnham’s plan to stop people sleeping rough in England is at risk because many ex-prisoners cannot find housing after release. Nearly one in six people leaving prison last year had no place to live, which makes it harder to reduce homelessness and crime.Key Facts
- Around 15,155 people released from prison in England and Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 were homeless.
- This number equals about 300 people per week and is an 18% rise from the previous year.
- The percentage of prisoners released without housing has increased yearly for five years, from 10.6% in 2021-22 to 15.9% in 2025-26.
- Safe housing after release helps reduce the chance of reoffending; 75% of rough sleepers reoffend, compared to just over 33% of those with homes.
- South-central England has the highest rate of prison leavers released homeless at 20.7%.
- Challenges include prisoners being released directly from court without support, short sentences that complicate housing plans, and poor training of housing staff.
- The government is reviewing whether to block the early release of two convicted manslaughterers linked to the death of a police officer.
- Burnham pledged £340 million extra funding over three years to end rough sleeping in England.
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