Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to write personally to councils in England on Armistice Day asking them to draw up specific plans to offer accommodation to any veterans sleeping rough ahead of the Christmas period, according to a Downing Street press release published on 7 November 2026.

The move sits within a wider commitment to end rough sleeping, backed by an additional £874m toward overall record funding of £4.4bn. Burnham asks councils to use part of that funding for plans on ex-forces homelessness, working with local organisations and charities. Separately, £8.7 million is being allocated to eight organisations across the United Kingdom as part of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme, to help housing providers support veterans with complex needs, including health, addiction and employment services.

Burnham urged veterans sleeping rough, or those supporting them, to call the UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774, which the release says has supported more than 1,250 veterans into housing to date. The release names the funded organisations as Veteran Housing Scotland, Launchpad, Alabare, The Riverside Group, Wigan Council, RBVE, SSAFA and Tom Harrison House.