Manchester officials are making moves to end rough sleeping but are under fire for plans to fine rough sleepers £100.
The city’s Mayor Andy Burnham lifted the lid on the city’s new Housing First project this week that promises to get up to 400 people off the streets and into housing alongside support for their needs over the next three years.
The £7.6m project will see housing association Great Places Housing Group work with the council to provide the necessary homes using the work that Finland has done on the project as a blueprint – check out the latest Big Issue magazine for more on that.
Where the scheme, which is also being trialled in the West Midlands and on Merseyside, will differ slightly from the Finnish model is that it will use private sector and social housing rather than purpose-built apartment blocks.
He also gave an update on his A Bed Every Night scheme – Manchester’s initiative to offer rough sleepers protection from the elements this winter – which has now reportedly sheltered 1,400 and led to 300 people being moved into permanent housing.
A new scheme has been announced to help provide houses and support for hundreds more rough sleepers in #GreaterManchester @AndyBurnhamGM says #HousingFirst: “This is a national crisis. The numbers of people sleeping rough requires substantial action on a national level.” pic.twitter.com/KWIHxVh5aZ
— Hits Radio News | Manchester (@hitsmcrnews) February 13, 2019