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Associations back Housing First following Burnham election win
Housing associations in Manchester have thrown their weight behind Andy Burnham’s bid to end rough sleeping, with a commitment to make homes available to a Housing First programme.
After the new metro mayor promised 15% of his salary to a rough sleeping fund, and said he’ll eradicate it in the region by 2020, Inside Housing can reveal the 27-member Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHPis considering making units available for a Housing First programme, with landlords in Manchester having already signed up.
Housing First, which gives rough sleepers accommodation immediately before building support around it, has virtually eliminated rough sleeping in Finland.
Inside Housing’s Cathy at 50 campaign is calling on the government and the sector to establish Housing First schemes in England to end rough sleeping by 2022.
Jon Lord, chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, said: “With a mayor in the city… and a willing housing sector, a strong voluntary sector and faith communities, the ingredients are there to actually make a real difference.”
Mr Lord, who is also chief executive of housing association Bolton at Home, said Housing First could work in the region because Mr Burnham will have control over the health and social care budget alongside new housing powers and can help these sectors work together.
Mr Burnham backed the Cathy at 50 campaign, saying: “Everybody should have a safe, warm and stable roof over their heads, which is why Inside Housing’s campaign to eradicate rough sleeping is so valuable, welcomed and much needed.”
The associations have also pledged to combat rough sleeping by setting up shared accommodation that works within Local Housing Allowance limits, providing employment opportunities for homeless people and finding more long-term accommodation for people in temporary and supported accommodation.
The pledges were drawn up by Manchester City Council and its local housing provider.
Communities secretary Sajid Javid has recently offered support to the concept of Housing First, promising a feasibility study in Liverpool.
Andy Street, the new mayor of the West Midlands, has also made ending homelessness and rough sleeping a major priority following his election.
According to official statistics, rough sleeping in England has risen to 4,134 from less than 2,000 in 2010.
