Rising Numbers Face Winter Homeless Amid Cost Of Living Crisis

Feet away from Victoria Station, a bearded man sits on a busy street, wishing people well as they walk past him in the hope that they'll spare some change.

- Joseph Timan

But as the weather becomes colder and wetter, he and other rough sleepers who spend their nights in Manchester city centre are struggling to stay dry.

The man, who does not share his name, explains that he took his trousers off because they were wet. He hoped they would be dry by now - but they're not.

Around the corner, Mark has had a similar experience recently, resulting in a decision to throw away his sleeping bag and rely on his raincoat for warmth.

"I just sleep with this on me now," the 54-year-old says, pinching his jacket. "My legs get cold." Help is available for the homeless in Greater Manchester under the mayor's A Bed Every Night scheme which is currently accommodating 732 individuals. But demand is rising and so is the number of people who are sleeping rough.

New data from the Office for National Statistics estimates that 43 homeless people died in Greater Manchester in 2021, compared to 33 the previous year.

This includes 17 in Manchester, six in Bolton, five in Wigan, three in Oldham, three in Rochdale, three in Tameside, two in Bury, two in Salford, and two in Stockport - with Trafford the only borough in Greater Manchester with none.