Mayor aims to bring rough sleepers in from the cold
NO homeless people will have to sleep out in freezing conditions this winter under a wave of ‘life-saving’ new measures unveiled by Greater Manchester’s mayor.
In future, emergency cold-weather shelter will kick in as soon as temperatures dip below zero, instead of after the government’s three-day minimum period.
Andy Burnham also revealed £1.8m plans to set aside 270 homes for the region’s most ‘entrenched’ rough sleepers, while at the same time councils will slash red tape for homeless people struggling to pay for housing paperwork.
Mr Burnham said the measures could help save lives, particularly the increase to winter weather provision.
Legally councils only have to provide emergency cold weather shelter for rough sleepers once temperatures have dipped below freezing for three nights in a row, but in future support will kickin straight away – a move Mr Burnham urged others to follow.
“This year, ahead of the winter, new rules will apply when it comes to cold weather provision,” he said.
“Normally the temperature has to go down below freezing for three nights on the run.
“We’re saying if it goes to freezing on any night, support will be provided.”
Charity worker Stuart Spencer, who now works for Shelter, said increased cold-weather provision could help prevent more deaths.
“It’s going to have a vast significance for people who are rough sleeping,” said Stuart, who has previously slept out himself while battling mental health and addiction problems.
“The change in the three nights freezing down to one night, that’s going to make a big improvement, because someone might die on the second night.
“So to be in somewhere on a freezing night that’s warm, comfortable, you’ve got something to eat, can have a shower, that’s going to be a big improvement.”
Beefed-up winter shelter is on top of a £1.8m new plan intended to help hundreds of ‘entrenched’ rough sleepers – people with complex problems who have been on the streets a long time – break the cycle and get into accommodation.
A partnership of 16 social landlords – spread across each borough – has now agreed to provide 270 of their homes for those in that position, working alongside Shelter and Wigan-based charity The Brick.
It will see people get a roof over their heads – with the specialist support in place – first, rather than being told to sort out their addiction or other problems before being given accommodation.
They will then be helped with health, training and emotional support in order to get back on their feet and hold down a tenancy.
Mr Burnham said the scale of the plan was a ‘UK first’, adding: “This is the largest such scheme in the country and we think it will make a big contribution to our goal of ending rough sleeping.”
The three-year plan uses a funding model called a ‘social impact bond’, meaning government will pay up £1.8m at the end if the partnership manages to get enough rough sleepers into permanent housing.
In the meantime, a series of social investors, including housing associations Trafford Housing Trust and One Manchester, are putting in money up-front, on which they will then get a return if the project works.
Those involved hope the model will give them the flexibility to try out new approaches to a complex problem.
Greater Manchester’s 10 councils have also agreed to slash red tape for homeless people trying to get housing documents together.
Mr Burnham said the fees charged for paperwork such as birth certificates are often a ‘major barrier’ to people getting support, so town halls have now agreed to waive them. “Small things can make a big difference in these situations,” he added.