A new six bedroom house has opened to support Trafford’s homeless this winter.

The council is supporting rough sleepers through the Greater Manchester-wide A Bed Every Night scheme, setup by mayor Andy Burnham.

It has now opened a six-bedroom property for the homeless on Chester Road in Old Trafford as part of the Phase 3 of the scheme in the borough.

The council said the opening of this new facility ‘will help in the battle to prevent people from ending up on the streets’.

The property is said to be COVID-safe as it provides individual rooms where clients can observe social distancing containing cooking facilities including a kettle, fridge and microwave. There are also shared bathroom facilities on site.

Trafford’s first A Bed Every Night facility was opened at Pomona Gardens in Old Trafford in partnership with the Great Places Housing Association.

But due to the pandemic, a restriction on dormitory style sleeping accommodations was imposed and the centre had to close in March.

The closure meant the council was tasked with finding a suitable facility and the Chester Road site is the result of that and the authority says so far it’s proving ‘a huge success’.

The property, opened in partnership with Reliance who are a not for profit registered provider and Housing Options Service Trafford (HOST), allows clients to access their own room 24 hours a day, and acts as a base for people to receive any necessary support services to move forward into their own accommodation. There is also a security guard on site.

The council said every person in the property will have a Homelessness Assessment and a Personal Housing Plan will be produced to focus on a move on pathway from the provision.

People accessing A Bed Every Night will also be supported by the Tenancy Support Team at HOST which provides advice and support on accessing eligible benefits, applying for housing, accessing GP’s and mediation with family.

There are currently 25 people accommodated under A Bed Every Night in existing temporary accommodation and B&Bs across Trafford – an increase on the previous year, which the council blames on COVID-19 and the initial halt on lettings by registered providers.

Coun James Wright, Trafford council’s executive member for housing, said: “My heart goes out to those who find themselves homeless in our borough – it is an awful situation and one which should not be happening in 2020.  The council has made it a major priority to prevent homelessness in Trafford and I am delighted that the new A Bed Every Night property on Chester Road will help us achieve that aim.

“The facility has been designed to be COVID-safe and is open to those who find themselves homeless. The council is proud of its work in preventing homelessness and will continue to do everything in its power to stop people ending up on the streets.”

For housing information, please call the HOST team on  0161 912 2230 or email host@salixhomes.co.uk.

For further information about A Bed Every Night, including information on how to donate or give your time, visit www.bedeverynight.co.uk or follow #BedEveryNight on Twitter.