ANDY Burnham says Greater Manchester’s response to homelessness is not yet good enough, but has vowed to do ‘everything possible’ to keep his pledge of ending rough sleeping by 2020.

The region’s mayor today launched a new plan to tackle rough sleeping, including the creation of a new business network.

In the same week as a homeless man was found dead in a tube station underpass near the Houses of Parliament, Mr Burnham said campaigners could not be ‘defeatist’ about the growing number of people living on the streets.

The latest official statistics showed that Bolton has 17 rough sleepers — up from eight in 2016 — but the mayor has agreed with groups complaining that the figures hide the true scale of the homelessness problem facing the borough.

He said: “There is widespread acceptance that the official statistics don’t tell the whole story.

“If you talk to the organisations out on the streets of Bolton, they will have a more up-to-date picture.

“There are people rough sleeping, but there are also hidden homeless people who are walking around and don’t look like they are homeless, but actually are.

“It is very hard to get definitive figures. I wish it was not the case, but the problem is getting worse.

“I am proud of what I know a lot of the organisations in Bolton are doing. Our response is getting better, but it is not yet good enough.”

Speaking at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Homeless Network at Salford University, Mr Burnham said that he still has faith that rough sleeping in the region can be eradicated by his target date if 2020.

He added: “I can’t say that we will definitely end rough sleeping by 2020, but I do believe that we can. If you are in this journey, I am with you 110 per cent. It isn’t talk.

“I will do everything I possibly can to make this happen. My commitment is absolute.

“If anywhere can do it, it is Greater Manchester because of the values of the people and the way that they are calling on us to do more.

“If we do make inroads, as I expect we will do, that will send out a positive message and also challenge other places to start doing the same.”

The new business network, which it is hoped 200 firms will sign up to by 2020, will be chaired by property developer Tim Heatley, who admitted that his industry has played a part in the homelessness crisis.

He added: “The public sector and charities are leading the charge, but Manchester’s private sector will play a pivotal role too.

“ Our business leaders have had the creativity, determination and ingenuity to put Manchester’s industries on the world stage. Hopefully they can apply these talents to, together, transforming the lives of our people without homes. It’s a big ask, but one I’m sure we’re capable of.”

Mr Burnham added: “The business network is a really significant development in the drive to improve our response.

“To have business stepping forward in the way that Tim has done, to say ‘we are willing to contribute in a different way’, is fantastic.

“If businesses put their collective power behind this then it can really add great resource to what we are trying to do.”