£6.7m cash boost to improve housing support for drug and alcohol recovery across North West
It's aimed at improving recovery from addiction
Millions of pounds is being put into improving housing support for drug and alcohol recovery across the North West.
More than £6.7million is to be given to four local authorities - to see whether it helps improve addiction recovery rates.
Three prevention hubs are being introduced across Manchester for specialist housing caseworkers to work out of.
They will help people who are struggling to secure long-term accommodation.
People with past experience of drug and alcohol treatment will help people in Wigan who are struggling to live independently.
In North Lancashire, the funding will meet demand for training drug, alcohol and health services on substance misuse, housing and health provision to support skills development and integrated working.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
"We’re supporting those recovering from drug and alcohol addition by addressing the link between improved treatment outcomes and a stable home.
"This £53 million funding, targeted to the regions with the greatest need, will support the government’s ambition to reduce overall drug use to a historic 30-year low."
Health Minister Neil O'Brien said:
"Alcohol and drug dependence can have a devastating impact on the lives of people, their families and wider society. It is essential to break this cycle of addiction.
"The £53 million housing support funding will play a key role in testing how housing can help break this cycle, improve recovery and help people to live happier and healthier lives."
The government's ten-year drug strategy sets an ambition to reduce overall use towards a historic 30-year low, getting people into treatment and deterring recreational drug use.
Director of Addictions and Inclusion, Rosanna O'Connor, said:
"The need for better housing and employment support for people dependent on drugs and alcohol is a core part of the current 10-Year national drugs strategy.
"We have known, for too long, that people in drug treatment with housing problems do less well in their recovery. What we know less about is how to address these problems. For the first time, dedicated funding is available to improve housing support.
"The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are working closely with 28 of local authorities up until 2025 to test and learn from specific approaches to housing support for this population, and Government will take the learning from these areas forward as part of its work to implement the Drugs Strategy."