THE Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Homelessness Fund and The Edward Holt Trust have been jointly funding the Stop Start, Go Sustainable Living hostel in Cheetham Hill.

The building which was formerly Kashmir House in Cheetham Hill is being re-designed and transformed into a completely new type of shelter to help to get people off the streets. The location was specifically chosen as it is close to other homeless charities in Strange Ways.

Richard Kershaw, Chair of The Edward Holt Trust said: “We are pleased to be able to offer vital additional funding to this new hostel, as part of our commitment to the work of one of its partners, the Booth Centre.  It is vital that people are helped to hold down jobs and make the difficult transition from homelessness to independent living.”

The centre, which currently has 12 beds (soon to be 15), provides medium-term accommodation to help people who are rough sleeping to get off the streets while they try to get their lives back on track, with support to get them education, training or employment and find somewhere permanent to live.

Mr Kershaw added: “This hostel is an inspiring example of the partnership approach we are taking to addressing the challenge of homelessness in this city.”

The Centre’s work includes making sure that people who are already in work, but fall into homelessness have somewhere stable to stay and do not lose their jobs while they get back on their feet.

The centre began receiving referrals at the end of August. Resident Mohammed Abdulkarim, aged 22, said: “Since coming to SSG, I have started college and sorted out my health.  I am a new being and my future looks good now.

“Earlier in the year the Government announced plans for a £1.8m contract to help homeless people off the streets and into accommodation. Manchester and Shelter, will be for this contract to get rough sleepers off the street.”

The Booth Centre, which supports people who have lost their homes or are at risk of doing so, refers rough sleepers to Stop, Start, Go.

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