As winter creeps closer and the nights draw in, a vital refuge is being set up for some Manchester's most vulnerable people.
Ahead of the cold winter months, homeless people in the city are being offered a roof over their heads by Manchester City Council and the Manchester Homelessness Partnership.
Each winter, the council helps to house dozens of Manchester's most vulnerable people in a bid to protect them from plummeting temperatures and help them to "rebuild their lives".
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This year's scheme launches on Tuesday - a month earlier than in the past - and continues throughout the winter. Space for more than 50 people has been made available in a former hotel outside the city centre.
The en-suite rooms and bed spaces will be offered to people who identified as high priority and can be accessed through a referral system. The council says the aim of the scheme is to support people until they are ready to move to more permanent accommodation.
The council is funding the scheme alongside the government. GMMH (Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust) will provide specialist mental health support while organisations including Change Grow Live, MASH, Centrepoint and the Boaz Trust will provide support to those on the scheme.
Meanwhile, Urban Village Medical Practice will administer Covid and flu vaccinations to people staying on the site. The Booth Centre, Cornerstone and Coffee4Craig will provide support and manage referral hubs in the daytime and evenings.
Coun Joanna Midgley, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester has made strong progress on reducing street sleeping and we are determined to maintain that despite the challenge of the cost of living crisis.
"No one has to be out on the streets. This winter provision is an extension to what is available all year round. The extended provision means that we can assist more people sleeping on the streets who will accept our help.
"We know that as the weather gets colder some of the more difficult-to-reach people who are rough sleeping are more likely to take up an offer of help . Once we've got them in out of the cold we can provide further support and start looking at longer term options to help them move forwards.
"Reducing street sleeping is only part of the story. We are also increasing our emphasis on preventing people becoming homeless in the first place, giving those facing homelessness options other than temporary accommodation and sustainably reducing the numbers in such accommodation.
“Every year people across the city come together to facilitate our work and help those who are sleeping on the streets. I’d like to thank the volunteers and members of public who are dedicating their time to this scheme and supporting the fantastic work of partners and charities across the city.”
The Manchester Homelessness Partnership (MHP) is a network of organisations working alongside the council to eradicate homelessness in Manchester.
Paul Newcombe, chief executive of the Booth Centre, added: “It's really important that all the organisations in the city pull together and pool resources throughout the colder periods of the year. This would typically start with lots of planning throughout the summer months so we're ready when it gets colder.
"In Manchester, we make sure there's accommodation and support available from November until March. Our collective aim is that no one needs be outside through the winter period. We know that this big push can save lives and that it helps support people of the streets and onto more permanent positive pathways."
Anyone who is worried about someone sleeping rough can alert the council by visiting www.streetlink.org.uk .
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