Manchester Adopts 'Housing First' to Combat Rough Sleeping
Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, adopts a 'housing first' approach borrowed from Finland to combat rough sleeping. The scheme, which led to a 70% reduction in homelessness in Finland, has shown early success in Manchester, supporting 430 people. Burnham seeks government funding to extend the initiative beyond March 2025, emphasizing its public cost-saving benefits and transformative impact on lives like Salford resident Lisa Minshull.
Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, has adopted a 'housing first' approach inspired by Finland to tackle rough sleeping.
The Finnish scheme, launched in 2008, has significantly reduced homelessness by 70%.
After a successful pilot in Greater Manchester supporting 430 individuals, Burnham is seeking government funding to continue this initiative beyond March 2025.
Burnham highlighted the cost-saving benefits and called for the UK to adopt similar measures.
Finnish ambassador Jukka Siukosaari also expressed optimism about the program's potential success in the UK.
Beneficiary Lisa Minshull, from Salford, shared how the initiative transformed her life, providing stability and support to overcome past struggles.