Greater Manchester Housing Providers
For the last five years, many veterans experiencing homelessness in Manchester have been supported into a home of their own thanks to the Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP).
The collective of 24 housing providers works together to make a positive difference to people and communities across Greater Manchester, finding lasting solutions to housing challenges, including for homeless veterans.
Set up in 2018, the group is the first of its kind in the country to support former Service personnel and their families in this way. Through its Armed Forces workstream, the partnership helps veterans in practical ways, including access to housing and advice, employment opportunities and wrap-around support after they leave the Forces and beyond.
In the past year, the workstream has:
- worked to increase the number of partners asking people whether they have served in the Armed Forces to better identify veterans needing support
- increased housing provision for veterans
- created an Armed Forces Champions network to bring colleagues from the frontline together to share ideas and best practice
- increased the number of partners signing the Armed Forces Covenant to make sure that veterans don’t face disadvantage
- offered employment interviews for all Armed Forces applications who fulfil the minimum criteria for posts
- contributed to the Veterans’ Gateway, an online portal to signpost veterans and their families to support and advice including mental wellbeing, finances and housing.
GMHP are proud to offer a wide range of support to both serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families. By working collectively, we ensure a consistent approach across the city region, and share ideas and opportunities to continually improve the support we offer to veterans.
Yvonne Castle, Chair of GMHP’s Armed Forces Steering Group and CEO of Johnnie Johnson Housing
