A remarkably simple approach to homelessness has housed more than 400 rough sleepers in Manchester, England, while saving the state money.
That’s according to the city’s mayor, Andy Burnham, who this week applied for more government funding to continue the ‘housing first’ scheme.
Developed in Finland, the approach provides homes to people without preconditions, then offers wraparound support tailored to their needs. It stands in contrast to other models that expect people to be sober, engaging with support already and seeking employment.
According to the Great Manchester Combined Authority, 413 people have been housed under the £8m pilot, which began in 2019. Of those, 75% sustained their tenancies. Finding homes for all the people that need them, however, is a challenge in a country with an acute shortage of housing, like the UK.
One woman who was helped by the scheme told the BBC that it had “given me my life back”. Burnham said the scheme showed that “if you set people up to succeed – they largely do”.
Manchester is not the only city trailing the ‘housing first’ approach. Houston, US, has also piloted the model, moving a reported 25,000 people from tents and benches into secure housing between 2012 and 2022.
Read more: The surprisingly simple solution to homelessness that’s changing lives
Image: Kelly Sikkema
