Trafford Council continues support for rough sleepers


Trafford Council is continuing to support rough sleepers by offering beds to those who need them most as part of the A Bed Every Night Scheme (ABEN).

As winter approaches, the Council has opened a six-bedroom property for the homeless on Chester Road in Old Trafford as part of the Phase 3 ABEN scheme in Trafford.

The Council has made preventing homelessness a major priority and the opening of this new facility will help in the battle to prevent people from ending up on the streets. The property is Covid-friendly as it provides individual rooms where clients can observe social distancing containing cooking facilities including a kettle, fridge and microwave. There are also shared bathroom facilities on site.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, announced the ABEN scheme with the aim of ending the need for rough sleeping in the Greater Manchester city-region. Trafford’s first ABEN facility was opened at Pomona Gardens in Old Trafford in partnership with the Great Places Housing Association. Unfortunately due to guidelines linked to Covid 19, a restriction on using dormitory style sleeping accommodations was imposed and the centre had to close in March this year.

The closure meant that the Council was tasked with finding a suitable facility for the homeless and resulted in the opening of the Chester Road site which is so far proving to be a huge success.

The Chester Road property, opened in in partnership with Reliance who are a not for profit Registered Provider and Housing Options Service Trafford (HOST), allows clients to access their own room 24 hours a day, and is an ideal base for people to access any necessary support services to move forward into their own accommodation. There is also a security guard on site.

Every person will have a Homelessness Assessment and a Personal Housing Plan will be produced which will focus on a move on pathway from the provision. The clients accessing ABEN will also be supported by the Tenancy Support Team at HOST which provides advice and support on accessing eligible benefits, applying for housing, accessing GP’s and mediation with family.

There are currently 25 people accommodated under ABEN in existing temporary accommodation and B&Bs within the borough – an increase on the previous year due to Covid 19 and the initial halt on lettings by registered providers.

Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, said:

“My heart goes out to those who find themselves homeless in our borough – it is an awful situation and one which should not be happening in 2020. The Council has made it a major priority to prevent homelessness in Trafford and I am delighted that the new ABEN property on Chester Road will help us achieve that aim.

The facility has been designed to be Covid-friendly and is open to those who find themselves homeless. The Council is proud of its work in preventing homelessness and will continue to do everything in its power to stop people ending up on the streets.”

For housing information, please call the HOST team on 0161 912 2230 or email host@salixhomes.co.uk. For further information about A Bed Every Night, including information on how to donate or give your time, visit www.bedeverynight.co.uk or follow #BedEveryNight on Twitter.

Posted on Wednesday 4th November 2020