Housing First is an evidence-based approach, which uses housing as a platform to enable individuals with multiple and complex needs to begin recovery and move away from homelessness.
In designing the pilot, there was always an intention to add new partners, in order to meet demand in Greater Manchester.
Following a formal competitive tendering process, four new delivery organisations that have the required values and expertise to deliver have been selected and will be joining the partnership in January 2021.
They are:
| Zone / tranche opportunity | Appointed organisation |
| Zone A (Manchester): gender informed/specific service providing expertise in working with women. | Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) |
| Zone B (Bolton; Bury; Rochdale): gender informed/specific service with expertise in engaging and working with younger people (18 – 25). | Early Break |
| Zone C (Stockport; Oldham; Tameside): Offender support service with expertise in engaging and working with current and ex-offenders. | Community Lead Initiatives (CLI) |
| Zone D (Wigan; Trafford; Salford): complex behaviour management specialist service. | Human Kind |
These new organisations will join the existing partners:
- Riverside
- Jigsaw
- Stockport Homes Group
- Petrus
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust
- The Bond Board
- Great Places (Lead Partner).
MASH’s CEO, Annie Emery commented that she is; “…delighted and excited to be joining the GMHF partnership, working together to improve outcomes for women.”
Emily Cole, Programme Lead, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome our new partners into the pilot.
“From the outset, we planned to scale up and use the learning from the initial stages of the pilot to ensure we were meeting the emerging needs of people being referred to the programme and increase the breadth of expertise within our partnership.
“Each of the organisations joining the pilot has demonstrated the values and expertise to deliver the specific services we require in each of the zones across Greater Manchester and we are excited to be able to scale up and work with the new partners.
“The pilot is making a huge difference across Greater Manchester and we are at an exciting stage to be able to meet our aims and ambitions and drive system change.”
The Greater Manchester Housing First pilot was commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham and the GMCA began in 2019 and is a £7.6million project tasked to rehouse 330 people during its three-year lifespan.
It was one of three pilots launched nationally, alongside similar projects in West Midlands and Liverpool, to test the Housing First methodology at scale.
The new partners will officially join the Greater Manchester Housing First pilot in January 2021.
For more information about GMHF, www.gmhousingfirst.org.uk