Greater Manchester Homes Partnership
Fund manager - Bridges Fund Management
Greater Manchester Homes Partnership (GMHP) works with people with long-term experiences of homelessness.
- 447 Number of people that have started the programme so far
- 300 Number of people who have sustained accommodation for six months or more
- 18 Number of Greater Manchester housing providers supporting the programme
Challenge
Seven out of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs reported an increase in rough sleeping from 2010 to 2015. In Manchester itself, rough sleeping increased from seven to 70 people.
Approach
The Greater Manchester Homes Partnership is an innovative collaboration to prevent and relieve homelessness in Greater Manchester. The initiative was launched and funded by One Manchester and Trafford Housing Trust, two of Greater Manchester’s largest housing providers, in conjunction with Bridges Fund Management, a specialist impact investor. The programme is being delivered by three organisations with decades of experience working with rough sleepers: Shelter, Great Places and The Brick. Over a three-year period, it provides the deep emotional and practical support an individual needs to maintain a successful tenancy. This includes supporting them with training and employment opportunities, addiction, and health and wellbeing.
Greater Manchester Homes Partnership is a social outcomes contract. It was commissioned by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, via the Government’s Life Chances Fund. Providers only receive payments from the commissioner if they succeed in delivering better outcomes for rough sleepers. Bridges Fund Management supported the initiative through its £25 million Social Impact Bond Fund, into which Big Society Capital invested £10 million.
Impact
Greater Manchester Homes Partnership provides stable, independent homes to people experiencing homelessness, helping them achieve the stability they need to improve their health, and to access training or employment opportunities. 447 individuals have started the programme so far, while more than 300 have sustained accommodation for six months or more.
Responding to COVID-19
Greater Manchester Homes Partnership adapted quickly to new lockdown measures introduced by the Government in response to COVID-19. It made sure all programme participants had lifeline essentials including a mobile phone and credit, prescription medication, food and household basics, comfortable homes with power, and access to support services (drug, alcohol, mental health).
The support team and participants also adapted to new remote ways of connecting. For example, one participant and his support worker now buy the same newspaper every week and complete the crossword together on the phone.