Homelessness Prevention Strategy

Overview

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is consulting on a new Greater Manchester Homelessness Prevention Strategy.

Homelessness in all forms has increased in Greater Manchester since 2010 and tackling homelessness and rough sleeping is a key priority for GMCA and organisations across Greater Manchester.

A number of initiatives are already in place in Greater Manchester to help reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, including Housing First, the Entrenched Rough Sleeper Social Impact Bond and A Bed Every Night.

There is more to do though, rough sleeping rates have decreased 53% since 2017 but are still three times higher than 2010.

To prevent homelessness and rough sleeping the Homelessness Prevention Strategy sets out that:

• Everyone is able to sustain a home that is safe, decent and affordable
• Everyone leaves our places of care (care, health facility, prison, asylum) with a safe place to go
• Where people are at imminent risk of homelessness they are able to access quality advice, advocacy and support
• No one is forced to sleep rough and temporary accommodation supports respite, recovery and re-connection
• Homelessness is not an entrenched or repeat experience

This will be achieved with three shared commitments that guide the way all necessary sectors and stakeholders will act: 

• To work with People; being truly person-centred, building wellbeing and addressing inequality
• To build Participation; where people participate in decisions that affect their lives and lived experience is highly valued
• To embed Prevention; ensuring public services create the conditions for success

This strategy looks at how we prevent homelessness, as well as mitigating the risks of homelessness when they happen. Homelessness prevention should be about proactively building wellbeing and participation, as well as taking steps to respond effectively when people need help.

The Homelessness Prevention Strategy sets out the steps Greater Manchester needs to take over the next five years to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.

We are keen to get input from Greater Manchester residents and stakeholders on the strategy so that your views influence the plans and inform decision making.

Here is a video from the morning of the 14th May, which shows Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Paul Dennett, GM Lead for Housing, Homelessness and Infrastructure, talk about the draft strategy - 

Why your views matter

This draft document has been created by lots of partners from across Greater Manchester telling us what the future of preventing homelessness should look like.

Now it's time for you to tell us if we're on the right track - or what better ideas you might have.