Hundreds of rough sleepers in Greater Manchester to get intensive support
Homeless gain help get foot on housing ladder.
Last updated 24th Nov 2017
In a series of UK firsts to address homelessness, Greater Manchester has come together to announce radical proposals to save lives as winter draws in. Hundreds of rough sleepers will have the chance to start a new life off the streets in a £1.8m scheme which is to be agreed between private funders, housing providers, and the public and voluntary sectors.
The homeless will be given intensive support to be able to sustain a tenancy of 270 homes to be made available by 15 of Greater Manchester's housing providers and two private rented sector partners. Also, they will receive the concentrated emotional and practical support they need to access the right kind of targeted health, training and employment services.
It is a UK first, as it represents the broadcast range of partners that have ever come together for a government-backed initiative of this type, and it's the biggest of this type outside London.
Greater Manchester has now become the first major metropolitan area in the country where emergency help will be available to rough sleepers as soon as the temperature drops below zero.
Homelessness experts believe this new approach will save lives because rough sleepers will get the access to emergency centres with beds, showers and support much earlier.