Our Story
Since its inception in 2019, the partnership has adapted and grown to ensure the people across all 10 boroughs had the support they needed. Read below to see how we have got to where we are today
The Greater Manchester Housing First programme began as an initial three-year pilot, running from April 2019 to March 2022. It was commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), later the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Housing First uses an evidence-based approach, using housing as a platform to enable individuals with multiple and complex needs to begin recovery and move away from homelessness. The initial pilot across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs was an incredible success, rehousing 330 people during the first three years despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns.
In our second year of operational delivery the partnership conducted a competitive tender process to recruit additional delivery partners. This exercise was in response to specific unmet needs identified during the first year of operation. These unmet needs include those of young people, vulnerable women, individuals with significant involvement in the justice system, and those with complex behavioural challenges.
The partnership grew to 11 partners, with Early Break, Humankind, Community Led Initiatives (CLI), and Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) joining the GMHF Partnership. Great Places Housing Association continued as the lead partner, holding the head contract for delivery with the GMCA and managing the other delivery partners. To read more please visit Our Partnership page.
Following a new competitive tender in June 2022, the Partnership won a further extension to the programme to take us through to the end of March 2025 with an additional two years of ring fenced Housing First funding and a further 12 months to be funded from the Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI).
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The Partnership is currently gearing up for the publication of a new tender framework in November 2024 for the delivery of both the Housing First and the Rough Sleeper Accommodation programmes from April 25 onwards.
With the changes to the devolution deal for Greater Manchester and the focus from the new government on Homelessness we are determined as a partnership to continue our work in reducing homelessness and supporting people who experiencing multiple disadvantage.
We are also committed to being a catalyst for changes in approach to working with excluded cohorts and assuring that everyone gets the opportunity for a safe home.