Greater Manchester announces 1000 hotel beds for region's rough sleepers
Andy Burnham has announced that £5million of funding will be released to house 1000 people in hotels and provide them with essential services.
The move means that rough sleepers and people using shared hostels in the region will be able to self-isolate in individual hotel rooms during the coronavirus outbreak.
625 hotel rooms have already been made available, with 325 more being sourced in the next 48 hours, according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Mayor Andy Burnham said: "We have moved swiftly to work with our 10 local authorities, NHS and the private and faith sectors to source enough accommodation in some of our city-region’s large hotels for everyone who needs it.
"We are assisting some people accommodated in A Bed Every Night into these rooms while others are being supported from the streets or from situations where they are experiencing an imminent risk of sleeping rough.
"We will provide essential services of food, access to medicines, targeted support and somewhere safe to stay during an incredibly challenging time for them."
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The authority have said that there will also be a commitment to provide people with mental and physical health support.
Further plans have also been revealed to cater for the new hotel population, with welfare packages to be sourced through the Greater Manchester Homeless Action Network, an umbrella organisation key to addressing homelessness and rough sleeping in the city-region.
These packages will include dry food goods, basic food preparation and eating utensils and hygiene essentials such as sanitary and dental products.
Local authorities have also identified taxi firms that will be used to transport people to hotel rooms.