City region sees fall in number of rough sleepers

Greater Manchester has seen a notable fall in the number of people sleeping rough each night, according to latest figures from the mayor.

In October, 112 people were found sleeping on the streets, marking about a 25% reduction from the 148 recorded in October 2023.

Those people are in addition to the 550 currently being provided accommodation through Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's Bed Every Night scheme.

The 10 councils that make up the region's combined authority have announced they will be spending a further £1m to help find solutions to the problem.

The project has already been increased by 50 beds with the extra funding, half of which has come from central government, with a further increase meaning more than 600 beds will be available from next April.

The project has been increased by 50 beds with the extra funding, half of which has come from central government, meaning more than 600 beds will be available from next April.

Mr Burnham said: "As we face another challenging winter, Greater Manchester is coming together to send a clear signal that support is available – but the current pressures on the system cannot be sustained.

"There is an urgent need to invest in services so we can bring people inside and offer them the kind of personalised support that will help them get back on their feet.

"But there is also an urgent need to get upstream and stop the flow of people onto our streets."

Rough sleeper Jay Wright said he had been unable to secure a bed due to demand and been forced to beg to pay for hostel accommodation.

The 48-year-old said: "I'm engaging with the town hall, I'm engaging with Shelter. I keep myself to myself because what I've seen out on the streets is absolutely terrifying so I stay as close to Piccadilly station at night as possible unless I raise up the money to get in somewhere myself."

Mr Wright said he became homeless a year ago after his mother died and he lost his home.

He has been offered a bed at a Bed Every Night facility near Manchester Airport but decided it was too far to travel.

He added: "It's an hour-and-a-half on the tram and the little family I've got left which I'm trying to maintain contact with live in Newton Heath.

"My hopes are to get out of this situation instead of sitting on the floor asking good people for help and degrading myself."

Mr Burnham claimed pressures resulting from a decision by the previous Conservative government to speed up the eviction of refugees from hotels caused an increase in rough sleeping last year.

Many rough sleepers are thought to be refugees who have no right to accommodation.

The mayor urged people not to travel to Manchester in the hope of finding somewhere to stay.

He said: "The message is, don't travel to Manchester looking for support because we're doing everything we can and we do call on other cities to do whatever they can as well."

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