Manchester City Council is activating its plans for cold weather this winter to ensure that there is a warm space indoors for people who want one when the weather is below zero.
Every year, the Council, working alongside Manchester Homelessness Partnership and health services, provides additional accommodation during periods of severe cold weather, so that no one has to sleep outside in freezing weather.
Year-round provision, funded by Manchester City Council , at Etrop Grange hotel in Wythenshawe already exists to help people off the street and into accommodation with support services in place to help them move on. However, we know that in periods of extreme cold weather more people are likely to accept an offer to come inside.
From November 1, these efforts are enhanced and council officers alongside Manchester Homelessness Partnership members, operate a system of increased outreach.
When the weather is forecast to drop below zero, even for one day, severe weather emergency protocol is called leading to increased outreach which operates until 4.30am. This allows officers to support people into accommodation paving the way to connect them with any additional support that they need and carry out housing assessment to find a suitable move on pathway.
Councillor Joanna Midgley, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said:
“We work year-round to help people off the streets, giving them access to the support they need to help them get on with their lives.
However, as it gets colder, people are more likely to accept help and come inside. This is why we expand our outreach offer and our officers, along with partner agencies, work into the early hours seeking out people who have bedded down so that we can offer them the opportunity to come indoors and access additional support.
This is especially important as sometimes coming inside in cold weather is the impetus that they need to accept help that we, along with our partners, can provide. It is often the first step on the road to a better, healthier future.”
