Wednesday 28th October 2026
For years, The Passage has called for a homelessness system that focuses not only on responding to crisis, but on preventing it. We’ve advocated for stronger leadership and accountability, increased investment in affordable and social housing, and solutions shaped by evidence, lived experience and partnership.
That is why today’s Autumn Budget gives us reason to be hopeful.
Many of the priorities we and others across the sector have championed for, are receiving greater attention and investment. While there is still much more to do, there is growing recognition that ending homelessness requires long-term thinking, coordinated action and a focus on prevention.
Leadership creates the opportunity for change
At The Passage, we have spent many years working alongside people experiencing homelessness, listening to their experiences and sharing what we have learned with policymakers, partners and decision-makers.
One message has remained consistent: homelessness is a complex issue that no single organisation can solve alone.
Lasting progress depends on bringing together government, local authorities, charities, housing providers, businesses and communities behind a shared ambition. Leadership creates the conditions for this to happen, helping to drive accountability, align priorities and maintain momentum across the system.
It is encouraging to see greater recognition that homelessness can be prevented, not simply managed, and that lasting change requires action across housing, health, employment and wider support systems.
What gives us hope is not any single announcement, but the increasing commitment to addressing the causes of homelessness as well as its consequences.
Ending homelessness is a marathon, not a sprint
Alongside stronger leadership and accountability, increasing access to affordable and social housing remains fundamental to ending homelessness. Safe, secure housing provides the foundation from which people can rebuild their lives, maintain relationships, access employment and look ahead with confidence.
The investment announced today is an encouraging step and reflects the growing recognition that housing must remain at the heart of any long-term solution to homelessness.
But there is no quick fix. Delivering the homes people need will take time, sustained investment and long-term commitment.
Investing in what works now
While longer-term housing solutions are developed, we must continue investing in approaches we know make a difference today.
At The Passage, we see every day that homelessness is not inevitable.
With the right support at the right time, people can avoid crisis, remain housed and build brighter futures. Early intervention helps people to address challenges before they reach crisis point, reducing both personal hardship and pressure on public services.
This is why we have consistently called for greater investment in prevention and evidence-led approaches, like No Night Out. We know that identifying risks earlier, removing barriers to support and helping people stay safely housed delivers better outcomes for individuals, communities and services alike.
The opportunity now is to continue rewiring systems around early intervention, ensuring that support is available before people lose their home, rather than only once a crisis has occurred.
Reflections from the Rough Sleeping Summit
This week’s Rough Sleeping Summit brought together leaders from across government, local authorities and the homelessness sector to discuss how we can build on this momentum and accelerate progress towards ending rough sleeping.
“It was great to be welcomed by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, to represent The Passage at the Rough Sleeping Summit on Monday. There was a real sense of energy and commitment from all those in a room, a room made up of a cross section of society: central and local government, charities, faith leaders, business and philanthropists. The work to end rough sleeping will be a marathon not a sprint, and there is so much more to do. However, The Passage has often said that homelessness is a societal issue that needs a societal solution. Monday gave me hope that that, by working together, that vision really could be achieved.” – Mick Clarke, Chief Executive
Looking beyond Christmas
As we approach winter, there is renewed focus on ensuring people receive the support they need.
We are proud to be playing our part in the new Everyone In initiative, working alongside partners to provide a dedicated night hub service and rapid assessment support for people at risk of sleeping rough. By bringing together emergency accommodation, specialist support and move-on planning under one roof, the programme reflects the kind of collaborative, person-centred approach that we know can help prevent rough sleeping and support people towards stable futures.
While this work is particularly important as we approach winter, its value extends far beyond the coming months. Every opportunity to intervene early, coordinate support and help someone move away from homelessness is a step towards the long-term change we all want to see.
Today’s announcements, alongside the growing national focus on homelessness, provide an opportunity to build on what we know works: strong partnerships, prevention-focused support and long-term investment in housing and people.
Many of the priorities we have championed for years are beginning to gain momentum. That gives us hope. The challenge now is to turn ambition into action, ensuring more people receive support before they reach crisis, more people have access to safe and stable housing, and fewer people experience homelessness in the first place.
