Homelessness in Manchester is an ever-growing problem. Statistics from Shelter (2023) indicate that one in 74 people are victims of this growing crisis.
There is some help in the form of hostels, but these are often a short-term solution. Even when longer-term housing is secured, some people cannot successfully adapt to a new living situation, and a shocking number of people return to the streets.
Problems with adapting to accommodation range from the inability to budget or manage a home. This is in part to their previous existence in institutions -the care system, prison or the armed forces.
In 2018 Embassy, a Christian charity used a repurposed tour bus to provide emergency shelter.
The 14-berth tour bus provided space, time and a network of connections to help homeless people going forward.
At one time, the vehicle belonged to Mumford and Sons, and was a huge success until Covid derailed the project. The Embassy bus was run by Sid Williams and led him to conclude that shelters were not really the answer to solving rough sleeping. If people were able to gain accommodation (currently there is a 6-year waiting list for housing and approximately 13,000 households), they needed stable tenancies, support and jobs.
Images of the apartments available. Credit: Margaret Carr
A common misconception is that homeless people are addicts. According to Williams, this is simply not true. The majority of homeless people have suffered personal tragedy and relationship breakdowns.
After the pandemic plans were drawn up to develop a village for rough sleepers in one of Manchester’s most desirable areas. The land for this development was given under an unprecedented free 125-year lease by Peel developments.
This resulted in the development of the ‘Embassy Village’, to be built underneath the railway arches in the Castlefield district. Planning permission was granted with 61% support from local people.
The development was in conjunction with Andy Burnham’s homelessness charity and Tim Heatley, property developer.
Initially, the mission was to raise £3m to build the village and offered local corporations a chance to sponsor one or more homes. Private tenants in Castlefield can expect to pay £800 a month for a one-bed flat.
Embassy residents currently pay £302 a month in a shared house, or £552 for a one-bed flat. The following qualifying factors for placement are: no alcohol or drug addictions, paying rent and a commitment to training for shopping, cooking, and budgeting.
One of Embassy’s first residents was a “single bloke with no criminal record, no addictions and no real mental health struggles”. This man had spent seven years waiting for a council house.
Residents are referred and receive an interview by Embassy. Williams advocates that a commitment to change is essential.
He frequently hears such opinions as “I don’t want a job. I want to live in a council flat, that is my ambition”. However this is not the ethos of Embassy.
Currently the housing project is nearing completion and will receive thirty residents within the next two weeks.