Greater Manchester could see a fresh surge in homelessness as lockdown eases and recession kicks in, Andy Burnham and charities have warned, as pressure grows on the government to close the ‘gaps’ in its approach.

One group of charities warned of a ‘humanitarian disaster’ this winter if enough cash for safely distanced shelters is not provided, while the mayor said he had still not seen a ‘proper strategy’ or funding from ministers to tackle what happens next, raising particular concerns that if widescale evictions - banned temporarily under emergency Covid rules - were to return under the expected downturn, it could lead to ‘even greater numbers coming new to the streets’.

Separately the charity Riverside - which provides much of Manchester council’s homeless accommodation and support - warned far more would be needed from ministers than announcements to date.

It said the homelessness sector was already ‘traumatised’ due to ‘years of underfunding’ and warned the impact of an expected sharp recession was likely to include another spike in homelessness that would require extra support.

Meanwhile an open letter from more than 60 charities to the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, warns the impact of Covid on homeless people ‘reaches far beyond the months of lockdown’.

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“In this crisis, a failure to protect the most vulnerable constitutes a failure to protect us all,” said the charities, including the Big Issue Foundation.

At the weekend government announced it would be bringing forward funding for 6,000 new or converted homes in order to move rough sleepers on from the hotels and temporary accommodation they have been staying in during the pandemic so far.

Those people had originally been brought inside as part of the government’s ‘Everyone In’ approach, aimed at protecting street homeless people from the virus.

But questions remain over the detail and funding of its broader strategy, particularly with forecasts suggesting Britain could be on course for its worst downturn in 300 years. Riverside warned the last recession saw a 25pc surge in homelessness, with Manchester one of those places most acutely affected.

The Big Issue Foundation is among those warning government

While welcoming the weekend’s announcement, Mr Burnham said a range of other ‘gaps’ in policy persisted where the current situation is concerned - including a huge shortfall in funding for councils trying to move on more than 600 people still in hotels, as well as support for those with no recourse to public funds due to their immigration status, of whom there are more than 70 in Greater Manchester.

He also warned that if no-fault ‘Section 21’ evictions, which have been banned during the lockdown, return as expected in a month's time, there could be severe consequences.

“I think what we might see is even greater numbers coming new to the streets in the months that lie ahead of us,” he said of that scenario.

Pointing to a ‘wide range of issues’ that ministers need to be looking at, he added: “It’s council funding to support people properly. It’s the no recourse to public funds issue.

“It’s work with our prison and probation colleagues to prevent people coming new to the street without support.

“There’s the whole question of Section 21 evictions and if, all of a sudden, they can start again.”

Such 'no fault' evictions had, before the pandemic, become the biggest reason for people becoming homeless in Manchester, including thousands living in temporary accommodation. Government temporarily banned all evictions during the lockdown, but that deadline is due to expire in a month, leading London mayor Sadiq Khan to warn of a 'ticking timebomb' yesterday.

Mr Burnham said. “We’re told that there are a large number of people on furlough in Greater Manchester whose jobs have already ceased to exist," he said. "So what comes after this could be far more significant than anything we’ve dealt with so far - the implications for the numbers of people homeless could be significant.”

The mayor welcomed what he said was a ‘personal commitment’ from the Secretary of State for housing, Robert Jenrick, to helping homeless people move out of the lockdown - and said he was in no doubt the government’s new adviser, Louise Casey, was aware of the issues and would be pressing ministers on them.

Andy Burnham

But he added: “I want to see more from the government to show that it really understands what needs to be put in place to ensure a successful transition of the ‘Everyone In’ policy.

“I’ve heard some encouraging noises, but I’ve not seen a proper strategy, a proper, funded strategy, to make sure that it works.”

Mr Jenrick unveiled the plans for 6,000 ‘move on’ homes at the weekend, bringing forward £160m in funding that had been due over the course of the Parliament.

It followed the M.E.N’s report that the ‘Everyone In’ approach was being wound up after local officials were told government had ‘drawn a line’ under it. Government slammed the story as inaccurate, but did not deny that the policy was being scrapped.

Mr Burnham said he believed the weekend’s announcement was due to the resulting attention the story had drawn to the situation, adding: “We’re glad the government is addressing that issue and committing to such a large number of properties, either as new-build or as conversion.

“Now we would certainly want to play a full part in that. But the problem with the announcement is it gives the impression something is being done and it’s solving everything when actually it isn’t.”

Riverside, which provides homeless accommodation and outreach on behalf of Manchester council, ‘warmly welcomed’ the funding.

But it said that should only mark the beginning of a drive to end street homelessness.

A person sleeping on Market Street, Christmas Day 2019

“The success of ‘Everyone In’ bringing inside more than 90% of people sleeping rough on the streets means this government has a unique opportunity to end rough sleeping,” wrote John Glenton, the charity’s executive director of care and support.

“Since that happened, ensuring that people do not return to the streets has been one of our biggest concerns.”

All 6,000 of the promised homes should come forward this year, he said, adding that what comes next could spark a fresh homelessness crisis.

“It is important to note that the last recession led to a 25pc increase in homelessness,” he said.

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“We have a traumatised system from years of underfunding, so will need to create extra capacity in the homelessness sector to cope with what is estimated to be the sharpest recession for 300 years.

“As such we believe that much more needs to done in order to build sufficient social housing, with at least 90,000 units per year needed to prevent homelessness long-term.

"We cannot let this golden opportunity to end rough sleeping go to waste."

The government’s ‘Everyone In’ approach was launched as guidance to councils in March, which said they should accommodate everyone on the streets at the time, if necessary putting them up in hotels.

Manchester's Innside hotel, which has been putting up rough sleepers during the pandemic

Since then a fierce row has erupted over local government funding, with councils in areas including Greater Manchester pointing to a vast shortfall and arguing that much of the cash has not taken deprivation into account. While government says the region received more than the compensation it claimed between March and May, a paper to the region's combined authority today highlighted a £406m funding gap.

The council funding situation is also raised by a group of charities in an open letter to Mr Jenrick, its signatories including the Museum of Homelessness, the Albert Kennedy Trust, Big Issue Foundation, several bishops and a slew of community outreach organisations.

“Pre-pandemic, the vast majority of people sleeping rough have been accommodated through the winter shelter network from November - March each year,” they write.

“We are now facing the risk of a humanitarian disaster as the shared winter shelter spaces commonly used will not meet public health requirements.

“This stark reality demonstrates that the impact of Covid-19 on our homeless population reaches far beyond the months of lockdown. In this crisis, a failure to protect the most vulnerable constitutes a failure to protect us all."

A 'robust alternative' would be needed if 'everyone in' was to be scrapped, they said, adding otherwise there was a risk of a 'spike in infections' that would risk both rough sleepers and wider society.

“A long-term commitment is essential to save lives.”

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick

What the government says

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government insisted ministers had provided Greater Manchester with more funding than they had actually claimed for in the two months of the pandemic.

In total, £3.2bn has been provided to local authorities nationally.

It also said the money available to councils here in general had risen by £150m in the last 12 months, adding that during the outbreak, some extra pressures would be offset by normal spending they haven't had to make.

Evictions had been suspended on March 27 for 90 days, it said, noting that it then expected landlords and tenants to 'work together at this time and to raise issues at the earliest opportunity to address any concerns'.

An increased Local Housing Allowance - which came into effect on April 1 - would last for the financial year and 'there are currently no plans to reverse the increase'.

They added: “Councils across [Greater] Manchester have received £168m extra government funding against the £136.17m coronavirus-related pressures they have reported for March to May. This is to deal with the immediate pressures they are facing during the pandemic, including to accommodate rough sleepers, which we continue to fund.

“We’ve been clear that councils must continue to provide safe accommodation for rough sleepers and our new taskforce – led by Dame Louise Casey – is working hand-in-hand with local areas to help ensure vulnerable rough sleepers do not need to return to the streets.

“We are also accelerating plans for new rough sleeping services – backed by £433 million – which will ensure 6,000 new housing units will be put into the system in England, with 3,300 of these becoming available in the next 12 months.”

“Through an unprecedented package of support government is ensuring no tenant will be forced out of their home during the pandemic and we have always said we will keep this under review. We are carefully considering the next steps on how best to support both tenants and landlords to ensure fairness in the rental market.”