HUNDREDS of rough sleepers are to benefit from a new action plan to tackle homelessness, including the investment of £1.8m.

The plan’s wide-ranging measures will help Greater Manchester’s homeless build a life away from the region’s streets and doorways.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the new funding the would help to provide accommodation, intensive health support and improvements to access to education and work for up to 200 people.

It comes just two weeks after the Mayor called on all public bodies in the region to work together to end homelessness and rough sleeping with immediate action.

Representatives from those organisations attended a meeting of Greater Manchester’s Reform Board on Friday to put forward ideas about how homelessness and rough sleeping could be immediately reduced.

This included a call to halt the roll out of the Government’s Universal Credit benefit scheme, supported by all members of the board.

Mr Burnham said: “This is not a political point. I am speaking for the entire board – the entire public sector in Greater Manchester – when I make this plea to the Prime Minister and Government.

“You must suspend the roll out of the Universal Credit benefit.

“It was a unanimous view in the meeting that Universal Credit will make the homeless and rough sleeping problem here dramatically worse.”

He continued:”I say in all sincerity, please listen and put it on hold.

“If it goes ahead as planned we will see a much greater problem unfold in front of our eyes.”

A DWP spokesman said: “Universal Credit lies at the heart of our commitment to help people improve their lives and raise their incomes.

"It provides additional, tailored support to help people move into work and stop claiming benefits altogether. And it’s working. With Universal Credit, people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.

“The vast majority of claimants are paid in full and on time, and are comfortable managing their money but budgeting advice, benefit advances and direct rent payments to landlords can be provided for those who need extra help and we know that over time people adjust to managing monthly payments.”

It has also been suggested that all 41 fire stations across Greater Manchester could be used to support homeless people, partnering with community and voluntary groups to provide a range of services such as food and drink.

The Mayor said: “I have made ending rough sleeping in Greater Manchester a personal priority and these developments represent a major breakthrough on that journey. This new money will provide real solutions to help people to get off the streets and find warmth, safety and a better life with work.

"But while it is major progress, there is still a huge challenge in front of us. There is good work already being done across Greater Manchester by our councils and others but with so many people on the streets we always have to challenge ourselves to go further.

“This is a crisis unfolding before our eyes and will only be solved if we work as one and bring the contribution of public, private and voluntary sectors together. We have to think differently and try new ideas and ways of improving the lives of hundreds of people who don’t have a home to call their own.”