A £100m government drive will aim to end rough sleeping in England by 2027. The new strategy, being launched by James Brokenshire, the communities secretary, on Monday, will offer help with mental health and addictions, as well as targeted support to get rough sleepers off the streets and into long-term accommodation.

Brokenshire acknowledged that efforts to tackle homelessness had “not been good enough” and said he wanted to see quick progress in reducing the estimated 4,751 people sleeping rough on any given night in England.

He told the Sunday Times the growing number of people sleeping on the streets was not consistent with “the type of country, the type of society that I profoundly believe we are”.

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Brokenshire said: “To see that number of people on the streets isn’t good enough. We need to make progress quickly with the new strategy.

“We shouldn’t punish people for being homeless. This strategy is about how we can support people, how we can direct, and yes, sometimes challenge, some of those who are living rough to get into those services that will help make a difference.”

The new strategy will take a three-pronged approach of prevention, intervention and recovery. About £30m will be spent on mental health and treatment for the misuse of substances, including the synthetic cannabinoid spice.

Swift support will be offered to those in crisis, with the aim of keeping them from ending up on the streets in the first place. And trained helpers called navigators will provide individual help to rough sleepers in accessing services and accommodation, backed by £10m in resources.

Ministers are also expected to review legislation on homelessness and rough sleeping, including the Vagrancy Act, which dates back to 1824 and still makes it illegal to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales.