Homelessness in Manchester from Policy to Practice

According to data submitted annually by local authorities to the Department for Communities and Local Government, the number of people sleeping rough in England has increased year on year since 2010 (Homeless Link, 2016). In its Homelessness Strategy document (2013), Manchester City Council describes the many past and planned improvements in alleviating the various layers and levels of homelessness, yet the city's own rough sleeper count found 70 people sleeping on the streets in 2015, a rise from just 7 in 2010. And these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. For example, the homelessness charity Crisis estimates that 62% of single homeless people don't show up in official figures (Homeless Link, 2016). Yet when it comes to homelessness as a whole, the problem does not seem to be a purposeful obfuscation or non-acceptance of the fact that there is a problem. The Manchester City Council strategy document identifies homelessness as a complex issue with a variety of causes that warrants complex and evolving solutions. As a statement of intent viewed in isolation, it seems to present a very competent strategy. Despite this, the numbers continue to worsen. It is necessary to investigate in-depth not only the rationales and approaches involved in the evaluation of and attitudes towards homelessness more broadly, and homeless people specifically, but also where and why there appears such a discrepancy between acknowledgement and intent, and implementation.

The fieldwork is proposed to take place at the Manchester City Council, and at affiliated organisations working to alleviate homelessness in Manchester, as well as drawing upon sources in the UK more broadly. Working with the council will help elucidate the considerations that go into creating and implementing the policies and strategies through which the issue is addressed.

This project proposes viewing the council as both representing the 'state', but also working within the UK government hierarchy, which presents an interesting opportunity for exploring the negotiations that happen at the various governmental levels, especially since there are necessary conflicts of approaches between Labour controlled Manchester Council, and the current Conservative government. This split will serve to highlight the complications with using the 'state' as a holistic analytical category. Working with both government representatives and organisations that work towards the alleviation of homelessness will shed light on how the conditions on the ground interact with the intentions stated in policies and strategies, and how those who work directly with the homeless population negotiate the conflict of theory and practise.