You can read the full version of the e-bulletin here.

Our Action Groups and ongoing work
Activities and Wellbeing Action Group 
The Activities and Wellbeing Action Group is looking for donations of women’s sportswear (clothing and trainers of all sizes) to support the participation of women in sports activities. By taking part in a variety of activities, this supports their emotional mental health and wellbeing. If you are able to donate clothing or trainers, please contact info@mhp.org.uk and we can arrange collection or where donations can be dropped off.  

Physical Health Action Group – Health and Homeless Information Fair
On Wednesday 9 October 2024, the Physical Health Action Group led by Caritas Cornerstone organised a Health and Homelessness Information fair. The event was held at the West Indian Sports and Social Club in Moss Side.
Over 80 people attended with multiple information stalls from a range of providers. Flu jabs were provided, free hair cuts given and Hepatitis C testing took place.
The information fair provided the opportunity for people experiencing homelessness to understand services available to them. 
A new report from Caritas was also launched on Health and Homelessness. 

Real Change MCR and Coffee4Craig – The Elephant in the Room
To coincide with World Homeless Day, Manchester Arndale launched “The Elephant in the Room” campaign on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 October 2024. Incorporating a giant Elephant, a cosy area with setees was set up in the Arndale to enable conversations with the public around homelessness and raise awareness of Real Change MCR, Coffee4Craig and other voluntary organisations working across the city. Members of the Real Change MCR action group and staff from Coffee4Craig supported the campaign talking to people, offering advice and signposting, and opportunities for volunteering. 

Women’s Homelessness Involvement Group (WHIG)
This action group are continuing to meet on the last Thursday of each month at the Booth Centre from 2pm to 3pm and all women with lived experience of homelessness is welcome to attend. 
A new monthly peer support group has also been set up for mums who have experienced permanent child removal through local authority care proceedings.

An interesting read … 
Coercion and Control: The treatment of women seeking asylum in hotel accommodation
This new research from Women for Refugee Women, Coercion and Control: The treatment of women seeking asylum in hotel accommodation, shows that women who have fled gender-based violence are subjected to coercion and control in hotel accommodation, akin to patterns they have experienced in previous abusive relationships and situations.

Groundswell Listen Up Project
The Groundswell Listen Up! project started in 2021 to share stories and insights from people who have experienced homelessness, challenge stereotypes, and create a movement of people committed to tackling harmful health inequalities. They are proud of what they have achieved over the last three years as the project came to an end in September 2024. Read their last report, Goodbye For Now.

Unveiling Hidden Realities: New Images of Rural Homelessness
The Centre for Homelessness Impact has launched a groundbreaking photo library that sheds light on an often-overlooked crisis: rural homelessness. From woodland camps to sofa surfing – rural homelessness takes many forms. The new collection with English Rural counters stigmatising imagery, presenting respectful, co-produced photographs that preserve dignity and inspire empathy. The rural image collection adds to the world’s first open source bank of non-stigmatising images of homelessness, expanding our understanding of this critical issue. Feel free to share it widely with your networks. 

Statutory homelessness in England: financial year 2023-24
This is the annual statistics release for statutory homelessness assessments and activities in England between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.The release provides a written narrative of high-level picture of statutory homelessness in England and includes statutory homelessness assessments, and activities under different duties to combat homelessness, and use of temporary accommodation.

New report highlights critical need for change to support local people
Caritas Salford is calling for urgent action to be taken they announce new statistics that show more than three quarters of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Manchester, Bury and Salford identify as having mental health problems. 

78 per cent of those surveyed identified as having mental health issues, compared with 12.7 per cent of the general population. 88 per cent of those audited also said that they wanted help with either accessing services or to improve their health and wellbeing, highlighting the significant inequalities that exist for those who are homeless. 

The data was gathered from a health audit survey of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness who attended four services in Greater Manchester in February and/or March 2024. 

Vision Care for Homeless People
Vision Care for Homeless People, was formed in 2003 by four optometrists, who wanted to make a difference by delivering an optometric service to vulnerable and excluded people in the UK. Since then with the support of hundreds of volunteers, they now have ten clinics running across the country and have carried out over 12,000 eye examinations and dispensed as many spectacles.
They run a clinic at the Cornerstone Day Centre, on Denmark Road on a Monday and Wednesday from 10.30am to 2.30pm. To find out when the next clinic is or to make an appointment call 0161 232 8888, visit the Cornerstone reception desk or send an email to info@cornerstonecds.org.uk. You can drop in without an appointment during clinic opening times. 
If you are interested in volunteering for Vision Care, you can read further information on their website. 

Foot Care for people experiencing homelessness
Groundswell has produced a health guide on foot health.
The Foot Hub provides you with easy to find information to help you look after your feet from Manchester Local Care Organisation. Here is information on podiatry services in Manchester and how to access them. Registration with a GP is required. 

Breast Screening Resource from Groundswell
Here is a Breast Screening Guide made for people experiencing homelessness and those who support them from Groundswell. It’s also available in 15 additional languages.

Blogs, Guidance, Journals, Research and Reports 
“Where do I belong? Where is home?” Experiences of racism and homelessness from Crisis
In the UK right now, racism and discrimination in our society, services and systems contribute to people’s homelessness. The data is undeniable, and Crisis see examples of it in the experiences of people who turn to them for support. New research from Crisis, shaped by a panel of Experts by Experience, uncovers the human stories behind the statistics that draw a direct link between race and homelessness. These real-life accounts show how racism and discrimination can negatively impact every area of a person’s life – preventing them from finding a home, a job or accessing healthcare. You can read the full report here and a summary here. 

Going Beyond Podcast
Accessing private rented accommodation can be a challenge for everyone, and these challenges are heightened for people experiencing homelessness. With individuals often not having the funds for a deposit, or someone to act as a guarantor, finding a home to rent can be impossible. For those who manage to get accommodation, maintaining this can also be challenging, and without appropriate support, tenancies can fail. ​In Episode 3 of the new series, Homeless Link speak to Tracey from Winchester City Council, Tara from Vision Housing at the Forward Trust, and Tim and Caprice from Greater Manchester Better Outcomes Partnership.

“It comes before your name” Research Report from Groundswell
This research report from Groundswell explores how lived experience roles can both reduce and amplify the stigmatisation of people who have been homeless. The report recommends that organisations employing or funding people with lived experience of homelessness:

– Give staff and volunteers choice over disclosing their own experiences
– Promote a culture where lived experience is the norm rather than the exception
– Foster progression in trauma-informed ways
– Focus on strengths, not perceived inabilities
– Recognise the diversity of lived experience.

There is also a blog that explores lived experience roles and stigma in the homelessness sector.

Frontline Homelessness services: Responding to the challenge of complex need
Click here to read this guide from Anton Roberts, PhD Researcher from Manchester Metropolitan University in partnership with Lifeshare.

New research shows 1474 homeless people died in 2023 – a mounting national crisis revealed
A new report from the Museum of Homelessness, has revealed another increase in the number of people dying while homeless in the UK – with nationwide figures reaching 1474 in 2023, a 12 per cent increase on the numbers recorded by the study in 2022. 

Niall’s Corner
This month, Niall is focusing on Caritas Cornerstone Day Centre and you can read the article here, which has been written in partnership with Sophie Garforth, Day Centre Manager, Cornerstone, Caritas.
You can read the most up to date comprehensive list of food-banks and pantries covering all Greater Manchester 277 food-banks / pantries listed and compiled by Niall. 

E-bulletins and News
Barnabus – A tragic loss with a silver lining 
Charles and his dog, Bruno, were companions for 16 years and they were there for one another through some incredibly tough times coming through modern day slavery and then living on the streets together, unfortunately due to limited routes out of homelessness Charles’ refusal to ever leave his friend meant that at times he was unable to continue his recovery. Click here to read the full story.