How did you become homeless? I’d been in prison, but they couldn’t sort me any accommodation for when I was getting out. The housing officer couldn’t get me anything with the housing association because of some problem with rent arrears. My benefits hadn’t been getting paid regularly, and so it had built up this debt […]
Individuals experiencing homelessness do not only sleep in visible places, but sometimes find their way into B&B accommodation. This is accommodation typically licensed as a HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) and is a place from which tenants can claim housing benefit. The B&Bs are often of a poor standard and many tenants report issues around […]
The evening services action group has a mission – to provide out of hours drop in options for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester. The group met for the first time this evening, to share a meal and discuss their experiences. Here are some of the key outcomes… Everyone agreed on the need for more services for […]
For anyone living in or visiting Manchester it is clear that there has been an increase in the number of people on the streets. Many of us want to understand why – what has changed, and is it likely to get better or worse? Homelessness is a complex issue, and it can be hard to get concrete facts about why […]
It’s evident to anyone visiting, living, or working in Manchester city centre that there are an increasing number of rough sleepers, beggars and other folk without a home to go to on the streets of our city. It’s an issue that frequently evokes a powerful emotional reaction, in a variety of ways. Some people like […]
Last month saw the publication of the Care Quality Commission document ‘A Different Ending’ – this highlights that people from certain groups in society are experiencing poorer quality care at the end of their lives than others because providers and commissioners do not always understand or fully consider their specific needs. The publication clearly highlights […]
With a rising homelessness issue, and limited resources, Manchester charities and voluntary groups are working harder than even for those they support. Street Support and the Big Change fund were created to support them in their efforts… Providing accurate information on services, to make referral and co-ordination easier. A central platform to ask the public and local businesses […]
We all want to help in some way don’t we? But, what’s the best thing to do? Our research shows the public are unsure of what to do for the best. There are some amazing organisations and volunteer groups out there in Manchester – now, using the new Street Support website, you can find exactly what services […]
The Homelessness Charter, developed by groups working alongside people affected by homelessness, with their voices at its core, is the city’s new approach to tackling homelessness. One strand of this approach is the Big Change Fund, Manchester’s alternative giving strategy, that aims to maximise the use of public donations for the benefit of people who […]
This is Izy’s story, in her own words… How did you first become homeless? It started at nine months old, when my Father passed away. After a while, my Mum remarried. The guy was nice at first. But a few years later he got leukaemia and became a very nasty man. He did recover, but […]
Jez Green from Mustard Tree explains more about the Manchester Homelessness Charter.
Here are a few of the ways in which Big Change has helped individuals in Manchester in recent months… Big Change have funded 2 people into their new homes from the streets. The agency involved are still in touch with the clients and they are doing well. One of the clients has a dog and […]
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