THE "pain and scars" of homeless people prompted the Greater Manchester Mayor to take action on the issue and push for a solution.

Andy Burnham visited Bolton yesterday to learn more about the town's approach to caring for the homeless and about The Bolton News campaign to find 300 volunteers to help the Bolton Homeless Alliance.

Mr Burnham spoke about hearing the stories of five men who were living rough in Bolton.

He said: "Like most, who catch the eye of people ­— you can see the pain and scars.

"I think the feeling everyone doesn't like is the idea they have become different from us and it's a painful thing to see. It's that emotional reaction that led me to make the commitment I did."

Of the five men interviewed by The Bolton News four said they had lost a house because the person they were living with was the tenancy holder and had died. 

Mr Burnham said it was a known problem and had been discussed among the region's housing providers but said: "It's an area we need to look at to see if we can get a stronger policy."

In Tuesday's edition The Bolton News looked at the efforts being made by the probation service to help prison leavers who often find themselves on the streets. Dean, aged 36, from Bolton said this was his story, having been in and out of jail for 15 years. 

Mr Burnham said: "I picked up the same issue on the walk around the city centre I do on a regular basis. I tend to meet people who come straight from Strangeways to Market Street. 

"It just shouldn't happen, it should be a never event that people leave prison to the street. Surely the purpose of prison is to try to rehabilitate. We do and have raised this with the Ministry of Justice and probation service. The issue is acknowledged by the probation service and we are trying to see if we can improve."

The Homeless Alliance was formed to back Mr Burnham's A Bed Every Night campaign part of his manifesto commitment ­to ending homelessness by 2020.

 

A Bed Every Night, offers stability to people who find themselves on the streets ­— providing shelter, a bed, a hot meal and a shower.

When Mr Burnham asked councils to provide a bed every night, over and above council's legal requirements, during the Beast from the East the feedback from rough sleepers was that having the continuity was incredibly helpful.

He said: "When you're in a situation where [shelters] are opened and closed it creates a situation where people can't move forward, they aren't sure day to day whether they will have somewhere."

Mr Burnham added: "375 people have accessed our accommodation across Greater Manchestrer. Last weekend around 180 were in A Bed Every Night provision and 113 have moved from A Bed Every Night to a fixed address. For me this is the most surprising and pleasing part of the scheme."

Mr Burnham has been pushing for more help for the homeless since before he took office and when asked about how councils were tackling the issue in the past he said: "Councils are beset on every front at the moment, we all have a feeling at the moment we're picking up the pieces beyond what we have the capability to do. The MPs and Parliament are so distracted by Brexit I feel there's a sense they are oblivious to the real massive challenge on our streets."

When Bolton Homeless Alliance launched this week Cllr Nick Peel welcomed the initiative but addressed the issue of people who refuse help or choose to beg despite having somewhere to live.

Mr Burnham acknowledged this was a "difficult issue" and there were distinctions to be drawn between genuine, embedded, rough sleepers ­— the people he wants to help ­— and those who "preyed upon the public sentiment".

He said Greater Manchester Police was taking a hardline with persistent beggars based on "hard evidence". He said: "They are taking court cases against people who've been begging who have refused support who have a home and have been asked to desist and have carried on. I think it's right to take action in those circumstances."

National statistics show a year on year increase in rough sleepers since 2010.

Figures from 2017 show Bolton has 17 rough sleepers, up from eight in 2016, in 2011 there was one. The council says its checks through the year show the figure fluctuates up to the mid-20s. Figures for 2018 are expected in February 2019.