Manchester Homelessness Partnership E-bulletin February 2026

Click here to read the full edition of the February 2026 e-bulletin.

Accommodation Action Group
This action group held an insight session at the Booth Centre to understand women’s experiences of using temporary accommodation in Manchester. Over 31 women with lived experience attended the event, and they had the opportunity to eat another tasty soup from the Booth Centre kitchen. Travel expenses were reimbursed and gift vouchers given to thank the women for attending and taking part. 
The feedback is currently being collated and written up and will be shared with next steps and recommendations. This action group is led by Justlife, Barnabus and the Booth Centre.

Employment Action Group
The guest speaker at the last action group meeting was Nick Sherburn, Chief Executive Officer from the charity, Engage Grow Go (EGG). Nick shared an introduction to the organisation, explained the support provided to people experiencing homelessness across Greater Manchester to help them into employment, and developments to strengthen this support. 
Action group members are keen to invite employers to the meetings to understand what opportunities are available for people experiencing homelessness and how we can work together. If you are interested in coming along, email val@macc.org.uk 
Organisations in attendance included, Smart Works, EGG, Department of Work and Pensions, the Growth Company, and Only a Pavement Away.

Homelessness and Migration Action Group
Members have agreed their terms of reference and are now focusing on their action plan for the year. This action group is led by the Boaz Trust, and current members include Greater Together Manchester, Mustard Tree and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit. 

Real Change MCR Funding Panel
At the January funding panel meeting, a presentation was given by Vida Events. Vida Events is an organisation formed by second year management students from Manchester Metropolitan University who are planning a number of events to raise funding for Real Change MCR. The students are hiking and camping in the peak district to raise funds for their Murder Mystery event, with profits being donated to Real Change MCR. They are aiming to support their cause by combining outdoor adventure with community support. Any donations are greatly appreciated to help share the message further.

Health and Homelessness
New Resources on Liver Disease & Cirrhosis
As presented at their latest Faculty meeting, and funded by NIHR, Dr Kate Pitt, Faculty for Inclusion Health member and GP in homeless and inclusion healthcare, Pathway has published practical, evidence-based guidance for frontline workers in the homeless sector who are supporting people with liver disease and cirrhosis. The guidance has been developed incorporating input from frontline workers, inclusion health clinicians, and liver specialists. 
Two versions of the guidance are provided on the Pathway website: 
– Practical illustrated booklet with hyperlinked contents. 
– Supporting document connecting recommendations to published evidence and guidance. 
Website: *NEW* Homelessness and Palliative Care
This new website hosts the Homelessness and Palliative Care toolkit, but also hosts the IMPROVE Community of Practice resources, the Homelessness and Palliative Care Network sessions and key other films and resources.
Podcast: Incorporating palliative care into homelessness services – Homeless Link
Palliative care is holistic support for people with advanced or life limiting illnesses, focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life. It addresses people’s physical, emotional, psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural needs while also supporting families and carers. Palliative care can occur alongside active treatment. End-of-life care is a key part of palliative care and is for the final phase of life, usually when curative treatments have stopped, aiming to help individuals live as comfortably as possible and die with dignity. Click here to read further information and listen to the podcast.
Co-occurring mental health and substance use delivery framework
In case you missed it, the Government has recently published a delivery framework for co-occurring mental health and substance use to ensure that service provision is integrated and patient centred. The full framework can be accessed here.
Report: Hostile Housing – The Health Impacts of Housing for People Seeking Asylum – Migrants Organise and Medact
Co-authored by Migrants Organise and Medact, with research led by general practitioner and population health researcher Dr Joanna Dobbin, the report argues that the “for-profit model” is delivering an agenda of hostility and “containment over care” which is contributing to what researchers term “triple trauma”: trauma from conflict, trauma during migration, and trauma induced by Britain’s hostile asylum system. Read the full report here. 
Experiences of stigma and discrimination among people experiencing homelessness
The results of a recent research study which aims to understand the experiences of stigma and discrimination among adults experiencing homelessness across multiple care and support service contexts in South London has been published in the BMJ. The study concluded that unfair treatment was reported across multiple care and support systems with greater ill-health associated with more unfair treatment. To read about the study, click here.
Top Tips for Healthy Eyes
It’s easy to overlook your eyes when it comes to caring for your health, but there are simple things you can do every day to help keep your eyes in shape. Here are some easy ways to get started. You can also watch this useful video from the Association of Optometrists.