LONDON — Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442 million national drive to tackle rough sleeping in England, calling for every person sleeping on the streets to be offered a route into accommodation before Christmas.

The package adds £102 million to the £340 million announced when Burnham entered Downing Street, bringing the total investment to £442 million. The government says the programme will provide accommodation alongside support for healthcare, addiction and other complex needs.

The announcement makes homelessness one of the central political priorities of Burnham's new government.

Local authorities, charities and community organisations will be encouraged to work together to identify people sleeping rough and provide suitable accommodation and support.

The government says the programme will focus not simply on emergency shelter but on helping people move towards more stable housing and addressing problems that can contribute to long-term homelessness.

An additional £8.4 million will also be directed towards charities and community groups through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund.

The initiative builds on Burnham's earlier pledge, made during his first speech as prime minister, to make ending rough sleeping a major priority. The government initially committed £340 million, including funding for homes and intensive support. The policy is also a significant test of the government's ability to combine national funding with locally led solutions.

Ministers acknowledge that simply offering accommodation may not be enough for everyone, particularly people facing addiction, mental-health difficulties or long-term housing insecurity.

Homelessness organisations have welcomed the additional funding while warning that sustained investment and a larger supply of affordable homes will be needed to address the wider housing crisis.

For Burnham, the programme is becoming an important measure of his government's broader promise to create a more preventative approach to public services.

The government now faces a challenging deadline: turning a £442 million political commitment into tangible reductions in rough sleeping before Christmas.