Supporting entrenched rough sleepers into secure accommodation and rebuilding their independence

The Greater Manchester Homes Partnership is an innovative ‘Social Impact Bond’ programme designed to tackle rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.

The programme worked with entrenched rough sleepers over a three-year period (2017-2020), supporting over 350 people who had previously experienced rough sleeping into secure accommodation where they were able to build a new life. The service provided the intensive emotional and practical support needed to maintain successful tenancies, and facilitated access to appropriate health, training and employment services.

First and foremost, the programme looked to provide homeless people with the right home, in the right place, at the right time. Secondly, flexible, local, long-term support was offered from three partners with decades of experience working with rough sleepers (Shelter, The Brick and GMHP member Great Places), recognising that different people need different support at different times to meet their needs.

The programme’s flexibility meant new and different approaches to tackling long-term homelessness could be tried, not only benefitting each homeless person, but also informing how the sector can deliver the most effective services to these vulnerable people in the future.

Commissioned by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, via the Government’s Life Chances Fund, the partnership was a unique collaboration between GMHP, social investors and leading homelessness charities. It was established and co-ordinated by GMHP members One Manchester and Trafford Housing Trust in conjunction with Bridges Fund Management, a specialist impact investor.