Bill Lewis, who experienced homelessness in Harlow, Essex, during the winter of 2017, is skeptical about the government’s ability to completely end rough sleeping. He describes life on the streets as lonely, destitute, and tough. While Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, has launched a "national drive" to offer a route off the streets by Christmas, Lewis argues that ending rough sleeping is not just a housing issue. He notes that while getting people off the streets is important, the problems do not end there. Lewis became homeless at the end of October 2017 and was living in a tent in gardens near St Paul's church in Harlow's town centre during the snowstorms. His biggest downfall was taking cocaine, which he used to get through night shifts as a "picker-packer" in a warehouse. He relapsed on New Year's Eve 2017 and spent the next three months using drugs, returning to the streets between March and July 2018. He now works for the charity Streets2Homes, which helped him get off the streets temporarily. Kerrie Eastman, who has run Streets2Homes since 2010, says the charity is monitoring and supporting 31 rough sleepers, a high number even for them. The average nightly number of rough sleepers in Harlow in the 12 months to the end of July 2026 was 30% higher than the previous year. Eastman attributes the increase to the cost of living and the disparity between the local housing allowance and rents, which are "really expensive" in Harlow. The local housing allowance in Harlow is £451.34 a month for private shared accommodation and £810 for a one-bedroom home. However, rooms in shared homes can be around £730 a month. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average rent for a one-bedroom home in Harlow was £1,021 in July. Streets2Homes provides interest-free deposit loans and has nine bedrooms across two Victorian cottages in Harlow. A support worker is on site from 09:00 to 00:00, with someone on call through the night. In seven years, only five people have returned to the streets from the cottages. In June, the charity also took the keys to eight one-bedroom modular "pods" gifted by the Hill Group, an Essex-based developer. Eastman is excited about Burnham's target to end rough sleeping but is concerned that those with "complex needs and chaotic lifestyles" require more than what is currently being offered. She states that people need mental health nurses and more support than what organisations like Streets2Homes can provide. The government has pledged £442m additional cash over the next three years to help end rough sleeping in England, which will provide emergency accommodation and practical help with housing, health, and other needs. Harlow's Labour MP, Chris Vince, who worked for Streets2Homes as a project outreach worker, believes Burnham's target is ambitious but achievable. He notes that during the pandemic, it was possible to get people off the streets and into accommodation quickly. However, he emphasizes that the scheme must come with additional support, highlighting the importance of a "housing-first approach" combined with necessary support services.