MAYORAL candidate Andy Burnham told a meeting in Bolton that he plans to end rough-sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020.

The Labour hopeful for the inaugural Greater Manchester Mayor role spoke at Bolton Town Hall to outline his plans to build a ‘safe, diverse and inclusive’ city region.

And he announced a new ‘action network’ on homelessness, which will be established immediately.

He blamed the Government for the soaring numbers of children being forced to live in bed and breakfast accommodation in Bolton and other parts of Greater Manchester.

New data from the Department of Communities and Local Government show that by September, 2016, 1,600 children (39 in Bolton) were living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester — more than double the number two years earlier.

At the event, the Leigh MP confirmed the appointment of Bury South MP and former minister Ivan Lewis and Manchester city councillor Beth Knowles, chair of the international arts and homelessness movement With One Voice, as co-chairs of the Mayor’s Homelessness Action Network.

They will be asked to make a ‘radical plan’ that ends rough-sleeping by the end of his potential first term as mayor in 2020.

It will be developed in partnership with third sector organisations, statutory agencies, businesses and those with a personal experience of rough-sleeping and homelessness.

Earlier this month, Mr Burnham committed to donating 15 per cent of his mayoral salary to begin a new homelessness fund and will encourage other individuals and organisations across Greater Manchester to also make donations.

At the special event, the first to be held in the newly refurbished Albert Halls venue, Mr Burnham said: “Nobody should be without a roof over their heads and a secure place to call home — least of all children. These figures must shock the Government out of its complacency.

“We cannot end homelessness overnight, but as mayor I want to bring together churches, companies and voluntary groups to build a new partnership.

“This action network marks the start of that new approach and my personal ambition to end rough-sleeping here by the end of the decade.

“What we can seeing on our streets is the human cost of cuts to benefits, mental health, drug and alcohol services and a range of council social care services. We need to help people break out of extremely difficult circumstances and turn their lives around.

“Greater Manchester can do things differently, we don’t have to accept large numbers of people sleeping rough on our streets. Let’s make a commitment as a city region that we’re going to end this.

“I want to be mayor of a Greater Manchester that’s a beacon of social justice to the rest of the country.”

Speaking about his new role within the Burnham campaign, Bury South MP Mr Lewis said: “Andy Burnham speaks for all decent people across Greater Manchester when he says ending rough sleeping and reducing homelessness should be a priority for the incoming mayor. His salary pledge demonstrates a refreshing personal commitment to leading by example.

“I am excited at the prospect of working with Beth and the many excellent existing housing and homelessness organisations to develop a radical plan which will support Andy to put social justice at the heart of his exciting Mayoral vision for Greater Manchester.”

Cllr Knowles added: “Following Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough-sleeping and reduce homelessness across Greater Manchester, I am pleased we have the opportunity to bring together existing best practice and look at new solutions to tackling homelessness across the region.

“Through the Manchester Homelessness Partnership, we have learnt that progress happens when the city works together - producing collective solutions and ensuring the voices of people with lived experience are heard.”

The Greater Manchester Mayoral election will take place on Thursday May 4.