Last week we released a powerful short film about one man’s experience sleeping rough in Manchester, his recovery journey, and how he has drawn on this lived experience to engage with and support others who find themselves in a similar position.

Glyn – who worked in our Housing First team, part of the Greater Manchester Housing First partnership – has shared his experience of entrenched rough sleeping, substance abuse, supported housing, being stabbed and rehabilitation.

The film sees Glyn speaking about these experiences in different locations around Manchester.

At one point, Glyn speaks from Riverside’s SASH supported housing project in Salford, where he lived for several months.

Glyn goes on to describe how through support, rehab and his own grit and determination, he turned his life around and eventually became a Housing First worker where he has used his own lived experience to engage and make a hugely positive impact on the lives of people with complex needs.

His story is inspirational. At times it is also deeply distressing.

The Greater Manchester Housing First (GMHF) partnership has helped to support more than 410 people, with multiple and complex needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, into a home of their own.

Our hope is that this film helps make the case for the importance of support services, many of which are facing cuts as a result of strained local authority finances.