Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called on the wider public, businesses and organisations to help end homelessness in the region by Christmas 2026.
Mayor's plea for collective action
Speaking at an event in Manchester, Burnham said the goal was achievable if everyone played their part. He urged people to donate to the A Bed Every Night scheme, which provides emergency accommodation, and to support local charities working with rough sleepers.
“We have shown that we can make a real difference when we work together,” Burnham said. “Now we need the whole of society to step up and help us end homelessness for good.”
Progress and challenges
The mayor highlighted that the number of people sleeping rough in Greater Manchester had fallen by more than 50% since the scheme launched in 2018. However, he acknowledged that the cost of living crisis and rising rents had put more people at risk of losing their homes.
Burnham said the target was not just about providing temporary shelter but ensuring people had a permanent home and the support they needed to stay off the streets.
Call for government support
He also called on the government to provide more funding for housing and support services, arguing that ending homelessness required a long-term commitment from central government as well as local action.
“We cannot do this alone,” Burnham said. “We need the government to match our ambition with the resources to make it happen.”
