A NEW strategy to combat homelessness, including rules to protect tenants and prevent 'unfair' evictions, has won Bury Council's support.

The city region's first ever Homelessness Prevention Strategy has been produced following a public consultation and aims to end the need for rough sleeping across the various boroughs of Greater Manchester.

This strategy has also been co-produced alongside people who have experienced homelessness in the past in order to design the widest range of responses possible to the problem.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "Our first ever Homelessness Prevention Strategy is a testament of how we do things differently in Greater Manchester.

"We’ve worked with people who have lived experience of homelessness and professionals, communities, charities and faith groups who work with them to design a long-term and ambitious solution that puts people, participation and prevention first.

"I’m proud of the achievement of all our partners across the city-region in significantly reducing rough sleeping over the last four years, but as well as continuing to support those in need, we need to address the causes of homelessness.

"This is why good homes, jobs and health are key to this strategy which will help us make a further dent in reducing homelessness."

With evictions from private rented accommodation a major driver of homelessness, Mr Burnham says he has committed to introduce a good landlord scheme to protect renters and prevent unfair evictions.

As well as Bury, this approach has won the support of all ten boroughs across the city region.

The leaders of each borough also say that they will work to deliver 30,000 zero-carbon homes for social rent, with a detailed delivery plan to be published within a year.

GMCA lead on housing and homelessness Paul Dennet said: "The homelessness prevention strategy represents a challenge to us all to tackle the structural inequalities, wider determinants and causes of the homelessness and rough-sleeping crisis we’re facing in Greater Manchester.

"It’s a completely new approach to public service delivery that is collaborative, integrated and embeds lived experiences, whilst ensure that people in need don’t fall through the gaps as they move from one service to another.

"While an action plan underpinning the strategy will be published in the autumn, we’re already getting on with things."