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We believe that having a safe, secure, and affordable home is fundamental to people's lives. It provides stability, supports independence, and has a direct impact on physical health, mental wellbeing, and life chances. Without a stable home, it is much harder for people to sustain employment, maintain relationships, or access the support they need. Preventing homelessness is therefore not just about housing, it is about improving outcomes across health, care, and wider public services. |
Our ambitions reflect this wider direction of travel across Greater Manchester. Through programmes such as 'Housing First', there is a clear recognition that housing is the foundation for improving social and economic outcomes, particularly for those with more complex needs.
Preventing Homelessness and Supporting Housing Stability
National Alignment
The review of Bury Council's Homelessness Strategy 2022-2025 shows strong alignment with the government's emerging national direction, with a clear shift from crisis response towards prevention, early intervention, and whole-system partnership working. Our approach supports national priorities to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, improve outcomes for children and families, and strengthen move-on and tenancy sustainment pathways. Its emphasis on Housing First principles, trauma-informed and person-centred support, lived experience, co-production, data quality, and partnership governance positions Bury well to respond to future policy and funding reforms.
Our Ambition
Bury Council's ambition is to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurrent. This will be achieved through a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, and partnership working, recognising that homelessness is driven by a complex range of factors including affordability pressures, health needs, and instability in the housing market.
A Strong Evidence Base and New Strategy
A comprehensive Homelessness Review has recently been completed, providing a robust and up-to-date evidence base on demand, system pressures, and service performance. This will inform the development of a new Homelessness Strategy from 2026 onwards.
The council will undertake a prioritisation of the review's recommendations and develop a detailed action plan, with implementation beginning from October. This provides a clear opportunity to reset and strengthen the borough's approach, building on progress while responding to increasing demand and complexity.
There has been a sharp rise in homelessness pressures since 2022, driven by cost-of-living increases, in-work poverty, rising private rents, loss of private rented tenancies, increased use of temporary accommodation, growth in rough sleeping, and additional pressure from asylum decisions and Notices to Quit. Even where statutory homelessness acceptances have reduced, overall demand for advice and support continues to rise, with more people disengaging before prevention can succeed.
A Prevention-First Approach
The new strategy will be underpinned by a prevention-first, whole-system approach. It will focus on intervening earlier, reducing inflows into homelessness, and ensuring services are person-centred, trauma-informed, and aligned across housing, health, social care, and wider partners. Lived experience and co-production will continue to shape services, ensuring that responses are grounded in the real experiences of residents. The strategy will be based around four pillars:
1. Strengthening prevention
Through earlier advice, targeted interventions, and reducing tenancy loss.
2. Increasing access to housing
Across all tenures, including improving allocations and housing options.
3. Providing safe and suitable accommodation
Including sufficient and good-quality temporary housing and improved move-on.
4. Reducing rough sleeping
Through targeted, multi-agency support for people with complex needs.
Reducing Reliance on Temporary Accommodation
A key focus is reducing reliance on costly and unsuitable temporary accommodation, particularly bed and breakfast provision. The council is shifting towards a more sustainable model based on self-contained, good-quality temporary homes, supported by a clear cap on supply to maintain a focus on prevention and move-on.
This approach will improve outcomes for households while delivering significant cost savings.
Increasing Housing Supply and Move-On Options
The council will strengthen its housing-led response by increasing the supply of affordable homes and making better use of existing stock. This includes:
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These approaches reduce reliance on emergency accommodation and create clearer pathways into long-term housing stability.
Partnership Working and the Role of the Private Rented Sector
Partnership working will remain central, including stronger engagement with private landlords, Registered Providers, and the voluntary and community sector. There will also be a renewed focus on improving access to the private rented sector as a sustainable housing option, alongside better support to help tenants sustain their accommodation.
Looking Ahead
Overall, Bury's approach represents a shift from crisis management to a proactive, prevention-led system, focused on stability, independence, and long-term outcomes for residents.