Greater Manchester steps up fight against homelessness - with global pledge

Greater Manchester has stepped up its fight against homelessness - by signing a global pledge.

It is now one of just a handful of Vanguard Cities around the world.

In January, the city-region pledged more than £7 million in new funding for the next three years, as part of intensified efforts to tackles the issue.

Completely wiping out homelessness in Greater Manchester was one of Burnham's key campaign promises.

"Our homelessness and rough sleeping epidemic is a key priority for me as Mayor.”

The city-region will benefit from the IGH’s guidance and support, while working alongside the other Vanguard Cities to work together to tackle common challenges.

“Make no mistake, the effort to tackle the humanitarian crisis that is our homelessness and rough sleeping epidemic is a key priority for me as Mayor.”

Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, chairs the Manchester Homelessness Partnership Board and said: “Homelessness is a huge scourge on our society, something that we cannot simply tolerate or ignore. I'm grateful to be part of the work we are doing together to eradicate it.”

“The insight of people who have themselves been homeless, and who are sharing their knowledge and experience with us, is key to this approach. That said, we recognise that this is a national and global issue and we are very much open to learning from the experiences of other cities as well as sharing our own.”