What Manchester is doing to help homeless people over Christmas

Nobody should have to sleep rough on the streets of Greater Manchester.

If you know someone who’s experiencing homeless or is about to become homeless – you can find out what these Manchester organisations can do to help this Christmas.

Street Support Network is an independent organisation that is a trusted source of information on homelessness in across Greater Manchester and beyond. One of the main reasons they’re so trusted is because, in order to maintain a good standard of information, they only list organisations that match their key values.

Help for homeless people at Christmas

If you are homeless, or about to become homeless, Manchester City Council offer help.

People can visit them at the Customer Service Centre in the Manchester Town Hall Extension or call them on 0161 234 4692

Please be aware they’re closed on the following dates:

• Wednesday 25 December 2019 (Christmas Day)
• Thursday 26 December 2019 (Boxing Day)
• Wednesday 1 January 2020 (New Year’s Day)

If you need help when the office is closed, you can call 0161 234 5001.

If you are at risk of becoming homeless, but are not yet homeless, there maybe help you avoid it.

Christmas drop-in events: who’s open, what’s happening and where

Lots of charitable Manchester organisations are running drop-in events over Christmas, which may include advice, cooked meals, access to showers and entertainment.

Sat 21st Dec

Coffee4Craig 5pm – 7pm Food, showers, advice & support
Lifeshare 7am – 9am Cooked breakfast
Mustard Tree 10am – 4pm Furniture, clothing, food club.
Reach Out TTC 10am – 5pm   Support services

Sun 22nd Dec

Coffee4Craig 5pm – 7pm Food, showers, advice & support
Food4AllInNeed 4pm – 5pm Hot food, clothing, bedding and food to go.
Lifeshare 7am – 9am Cooked breakfast
Reach Out TTC 12pm – 3pm   Support services

Mon 23rd Dec

Barnabus 10.30am – 1pm/7.45pm – 9pm Hot food, drinks, showers, clothing
Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Free breakfast/lunch/advice/activities
Centrepoint 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm Advice and support
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
JustLife 10am – 12pm Brews, food & activities (Openshaw Centre)
Lifeshare 2pm – 8pm Entertainment, dinner, clothing/toiletries, advice & support
Mustard Tree 10am – 4pm Furniture, clothing, food club.
MASH City Outreach 9:30am – 12:00pm Drop-In 3pm – 6pm Outreach Van 8pm – 12am
Reach Out TTC 10am – 5pm   Support services

Tue 24th Dec

Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Free breakfast/lunch/advice/activities
Centrepoint 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm Advice and support
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
Lifeshare 7am – 8pm Entertainment, meals, clothing/toiletries, advice & support
MASH Drop-In 11:30am – 2:30pm; Outreach Van 8pm – 12am
Mustard Tree 10am – 1pm Furniture, clothing, food club.
Reach Out TTC 10am – 3pm   Support services

Wed 25th Dec

Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Xmas lunch served at noon. All welcome
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Xmas Day lunch
Lifeshare 7am – 8pm Entertainment, meals, clothing/toiletries, advice & support
Jasmine Grill 12pm – 4pm The city centre restaurant is opening on Christmas Day to serve free Christmas dinners to homeless people

Thu 26th Dec

Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Boxing Day lunch
Lifeshare 7am – 8pm Entertainment, meals, clothing/toiletries, advice & support

Fri 27th Dec

Barnabus 10.30am – 1pm/7.45pm – 9pm Hot food, drinks, showers, clothing
Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Free breakfast/lunch/advice/activities
Centrepoint 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm Advice and support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
JustLife 10am – 12pm Brews, food & activities (Openshaw Centre)
Lifeshare 7am – 8pm Entertainment, meals, clothing/toiletries, advice & support
Mens Room 10.30am – 3pm Hot drinks
MASH Street Outreach Van 8pm – 12am
Mustard Tree 10am – 4pm Furniture, clothing, food club. Hot food 5.30pm – 8pm

Sat 28th Dec

Coffee4Craig 5pm – 7pm Food, showers, advice & support
Lifeshare 7am – 8pm Entertainment, meals, clothing/toiletries, advice & support
Mustard Tree 10am – 4pm Furniture, clothing, food club
Reach Out TTC 11am – 5pm   Support services

Sun 29th Dec

Coffee4Craig 5pm – 7pm Food, showers, advice & support
Food4AllInNeed 4pm – 5pm Hot food, clothing, bedding and food to go
Lifeshare 7am – 2pm Breakfast and lunch only.

Mon 30th Dec

Barnabus 10.30am – 1pm/7.45pm – 9pm Hot food, drinks, showers, clothing
Barnabus Support Office 10am – 1pm
Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Free breakfast/lunch/advice/activities
Centrepoint 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm Advice and support
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
JustLife 10am – 12pm Brews, food & activities (Openshaw Centre)
MASH Street Outreach Van 8pm – 12am
Mustard Tree 10am – 4pm Furniture, clothing, food club
Reach Out TTC 10am – 5pm   Support services

Tue 31st Dec

Barnabus 10.30am – 1pm Hot food, drinks, showers, clothing
Barnabus Support Office 10am – 1pm
Booth Centre 9am – 12pm Free breakfast/lunch/advice/activities
Centrepoint 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm Advice and support
Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
MASH To be confirmed – contact number below.
Mens Room 10.30am – 3pm Hot drinks
Mustard Tree 10am – 1pm Furniture, clothing, food club
Reach Out TTC 10am – 3pm   Support services

Wed 1st Jan

Coffee4Craig 7pm – 9pm Food, showers, advice & support
Cornerstone 10:30am – 3pm Hot food, drinks, showers and clothing
Barnabus 11am – 2pm; New Year hot food, drinks, showers and clothing

How you can help homeless people

As well as advising people to contact the council, you can also suggest that people contact the following partner organisations, who offer various services for homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless. These include:

• Street Support, works to connect people with organisations that can help
• Shelter, a national charity with housing advice on a range of issues.
• Citizen’s Advice, impartial advice and information about housing, benefits, debt, work and more
• Cheetham Hill Advice Centre, local support with housing, benefits, debt problems and more
• Centrepoint, help and support for young people aged 16 to 25
• Manchester Move, advice on social housing and not-for-profit landlords
• The Booth Centre
• Coffee4Craig, an out of hours drop-in service in the heart of Manchester city centre. We offer support, hot food, food parcels, showers and medical support alongside mental health crisis intervention

Donate your time – volunteer

You can also support local homeless charities by offering your time. Charities are always looking for regular volunteers who can use their skills to help the homeless. For example, fundraising, teaching, computer skills, cooking, driving, advice sessions and more. Find a list of the organisations near you which need help.

Donate items or money

Homeless organisations and charities are aware what items homeless people need most at any given time, such as socks, underwear and tampons. Find out what local organisations need, or let them know what items you have to donate. You can also donate money which will be allocated by the Street Support network.

Big Change MCR charity

We support the work of Big Change MCR to provide real, long-term solutions to homelessness.

Please share this message in your community.