Backing for Manchester’s Homelessness Prevention Strategy

Leaders in Greater Manchester have thrown their support behind the city-region’s first ever Homelessness Prevention Strategy, following a full public consultation and extensive stakeholder engagement.

The strategy builds on the work already happening in Greater Manchester to end the need for rough sleeping and tackle homelessness and lays out a long-term vision to reduce the numbers of people finding themselves at risk of homelessness.

The strategy takes a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to understanding and responding to issues around homelessness.

Greater Manchester has already made great strides in the last four years in tackling rough sleeping and homelessness through A Bed Every Night, Housing First and the Social Impact Bond for entrenched rough sleepers. Across the city-region as a whole, rough sleeping has fallen by 57 per cent since 2017.

The Homelessness Prevention Strategy sets out five missions that Greater Manchester partner organisations are committed to working towards to prevent homelessness: everyone can access and sustain a home that is safe, decent, accessible and affordable; everyone leaves our places of care with a safe place to go; everyone can access quality advice, advocacy and support to prevent homelessness; people experiencing homelessness have respite, recovery and re-connection support; and homelessness is never an entrenched or repeat experience.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "Our first ever Homelessness Prevention Strategy is a testament of how we do things differently in Greater Manchester. We’ve worked with people who have lived experience of homelessness and professionals, communities, charities and faith groups who work with them to design a long-term and ambitious solution that puts people, participation and prevention first.

"I’m proud of the achievement of all our partners across the city-region in significantly reducing rough sleeping over the last four years, but as well as continuing to support those in need, we need to address the causes of homelessness. This is why good homes, jobs and health are key to this strategy which will help us make a further dent in reducing homelessness."