RESS 1 year impact report released

The Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS) has now completed its first year in operation! At the end of this first year, it's been so encouraging to see the impact that this service has had for non-UK nationals facing homelessness in Greater Manchester. This financial year, a total of 123 people have accessed floating support from Boaz through RESS.

Commissioned by GMCA since 2023, RESS is a unique and innovative homelessness prevention and support service. Combining immigration advice with specialist floating support, it works with Greater Manchester residents facing immigration-related barriers, helping them to navigate complex systems in order to move on from homelessness, live well and thrive.

No one should ever be forced into homelessness due to their immigration status. However, for many non-UK nationals in Greater Manchester, navigating complex systems with restricted access to public funds can be insurmountable barriers, pushing them into homelessness and destitution. 

The data collected for this impact report shows that three out of four individuals are already experiencing homelessness when they are referred to RESS, and one in three are sleeping rough at the time of referral. In January 2024, for the first time, there were more people identified in Greater Manchester as rough sleeping who are non-UK nationals (41.8%) than those with UK citizenship (41%).

You can read more about the impact that this service has had in the past year by downloading the impact report produced by GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) below. You can also learn more about RESS and how this work developed via the button below.

Find out more about RESS