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GMCA relaunches rough sleeper scheme with commitment to deliver more than 400 ‘COVID-safe’ beds
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched the third phase of its A Bed Every Night (ABEN) scheme, which includes plans to house hundreds of rough sleepers currently living in hotels in “COVID-safe” accommodation.
At a meeting on Friday, GMCA leaders agreed to commit an additional £4.75m to the scheme, which will help increase accommodation capacity for rough sleepers by up to 445 households.
Under the third phase of the scheme, the GMCA will seek only to deliver accommodation that does not include shared sleeping arrangements, either in self-contained accommodation or accommodation with “low-density” shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.
The ABEN scheme was first launched by GMCA mayor Andy Burnham in 2017 and aims to provide short-term accommodation for all rough sleepers in Greater Manchester.
At the start of the coronavirus lockdown, GMCA moved hundreds of rough sleepers out of the shared accommodation provided through ABEN and into hotels where rough sleepers were able to socially distance.
According to the GMCA report, ABEN accommodation capacity has been reduced by 292 due to the closure of shared spaces, meaning phase three of the scheme will lead to an increase of 153 spaces.
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The third phase of the scheme, which will run from July 2020 to March 2021, will differ from the previous phases as local authorities will be required to seek housing benefit or Universal Credit claims against the accommodation in order to increase the financial viability of the scheme.
However, access to benefits will not become a condition of eligibility for ABEN and funding will be provided to accommodate 60 households with no recourse to public funds over the nine-month period.
Mr Burnham said: “It is right we look to the next stage of our work to tackle rough sleeping and the third phase of ABEN, once it commences later this summer, will ensure transition from the hotels and other alternative accommodation sourced for Everyone In into managed, safe and sustainable environments.
“It will enable as many people as possible to continue their journeys away from a life on the streets.
“In Greater Manchester we are rightly proud of the progress ABEN has made in helping us reduce rates of rough sleeping across our 10 boroughs – the last official government figures showed an almost 50% decrease in the two years before the pandemic struck.”
Paul Dennett, GMCA lead on housing, planning and homelessness, said: “The role of ABEN becomes even more critical as a humanitarian relief programme as we move towards living with coronavirus and manage the continued risk to life that this presents to those who are vulnerable.
“Tragically, more people have been forced into homelessness since the start of the pandemic and consequently we have also seen an increase in new numbers of people sleeping on our streets following government’s instructions and our initial response to bring everyone into self-contained accommodation to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and spreading.
“It is truly shocking that within 21st century Britain, the fifth largest economy in the world, that we’re experiencing a protracted housing and homelessness crisis, which is clearly going to be further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is therefore critical that we support the continuation of ABEN in Greater Manchester and ensure that those who tragically find themselves homeless continue to have a roof over their head and the certainty of ongoing accommodation and support.”
