More than 1,100 rough sleepers have been safely housed in Greater Manchester hotels during the coronavirus crisis - but hundreds more people have become homeless since lockdown began.
Mayor Andy Burnham has accused the government of ‘pulling up the drawbridge’ by only providing emergency funding for people who were homeless before the outbreak.
This money will not help the 344 people who have been recorded as newly homeless since stricter social distancing measures were introduced.
A further 115 people are still sleeping rough across the city-region, including those leaving prison or who have seen sofa-surfing arrangements break down.
Speaking at a press briefing on Greater Manchester’s response to COVID-19, Mr Burnahm said: “Effectively the government is saying we’re not going to pay for those, only pay for the pre-identified population.
“I certainly wouldn’t draw the distinction between people who were homeless before and people who have been made homeless by lockdown.
“Some you might say have been made homeless by the government as they’ve been released from prison and they haven’t helped them find somewhere to go.
"There are people coming onto the streets through this who perhaps are finding their arrangements, possibly a sofa-surfing arrangement, has broken down.
"Evictions, in some cases, haven't stopped completely, so we are seeing people coming onto the street as a result of the COVID-19 crisis."
Calls have also been made for greater support for homeless people with drug addiction and mental health issues who are being put up in accommodation.
Since announcing plans to make up to 1,000 hotel rooms available across Greater Manchester, the combined authority has managed to put up 1,140 people.
While describing the efforts as ‘outstanding’, Mr Burnham wants more support to help the homeless with drug addiction and mental health issues who are being provided accommodation.
He said: “A huge amount of people here are working really hard to look after people in this period, but also hopefully deliver a lasting legacy on hoemlessnes and help large numbers of people away from the street,”
“To pull the drawbridge up in this way and say you were only homeless if you were homeless before, I'm afraid is not an acceptable approach.
"I think [the government] needs to fund our councils properly to run a service that is truly 'everyone in'.
"I think thats what the public want, and certainly what I would be calling for."
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