Row of modern houses with solar panels on the roofs, trees, parked cars, and trash bins on the street in daytime.

Special Projects

Housing First

in Rochdale, Bury & Bolton

Are you aged 18 or over and worried about losing your home in Rochdale, Bury, or Bolton?

Housing First, delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester Housing First (GMHF), offers direct access to a stable home, with no preconditions, alongside consistent, personalised support from Early Break.

We believe housing is the foundation for a better life. If you're at risk due to financial struggles, family stress, eviction, or unsuitable housing, we’re here to help before things worsen.

“It felt like someone finally saw me as a person, not a problem.”
— Taylor

Housing First redefines how we support young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

What is Housing First in Greater Manchester?

Rather than temporary solutions, you get immediate, permanent housing and sustained, holistic support.

Here’s how we support you:

  • Once matched to a home, you're in, with no requirements to stay sober, work, or engage to keep your tenancy.

  • We keep caseloads low so our key workers can build strong relationships and offer tailored support.

  • Covering key areas such as:

    • Tenancy sustainment and landlord support

    • Budgeting, benefits, and debt guidance

    • Mental health & substance use support via partnerships (e.g. GMMH Dual Diagnosis Practitioner)

    • Engagement in training, education or community activities

    • Navigating appointments (GP, job centre, etc.)

  • You drive your progress: decision-making, goal setting, and service enhancement are co-produced.

    Your voice counts, from creating your plan to influencing local service design.

  • 90% of GMHF participants remain in their homes after 12–18 months, thanks to person-led, rights-based care.

  • To access Housing First, you need to be referred into the service by your local authority, so the best place to start is the homelessness section of your local authority’s website.

    We have listed all of the homelessness web pages of the local authorities below:

Pink and purple gradient background with an arrow shape made of white and pink dots, and text that reads 'A Home For Everyone, Manifesto Briefing: Housing First'.
Cover page of a report titled 'More Than a Roof' by Homeless Link, featuring colorful overlapping circles and the subtitle 'Exploring the holistic outcomes of Housing First'.

Start Housing First support today

Early Break is proud to be part of the Greater Manchester Housing First (GMHF) partnership.

Our Partnership with GM Housing First

A ground-breaking collaborative of housing providers, mental health specialists, community organisations, and peer-led support services working together to end homelessness across the region.

As a Zone B partner, we deliver specialist support for young people in Rochdale, Bury, and Bolton, embedded within a wider network of trusted organisations.

This partnership means:

  • We work with shared principles: choice, respect, rights, and long-term recovery

  • We are connected to a whole system of support, from housing to mental health to training pathways

  • We co-produce our services with those who use them, ensuring that lived experience leads the way

Together, we’re transforming the response to homelessness in Greater Manchester, offering homes first, not conditions.

A diagram illustrating the structure of a community healthcare and housing cooperation. Central circle labeled 'Co-production panel' with surrounding segments for 'GMA', 'GMCA', and 'GMHF Central Team'. Outer ring includes sectors like 'Community Voluntary Sector', 'Housing', 'Health Services', 'Criminal Justice', and 'Housing Providers'. Four surrounding sections feature logos of organizations such as NHS Greater Manchester Mental Health, Riverside, MASH, Great Places Housing Group, Wythrough, Stockport Homes, and others.

The Partnership in Numbers

Housing First FAQ’s

  • Anyone aged 18+ in Rochdale, Bury, or Bolton, at risk of homelessness. We accept self-referrals and professional referrals.

  • Yes. Engagement is encouraged, but not required. Your housing remains secure, regardless.

  • No. Support continues for as long as you need it to sustain your tenancy and wellbeing.

  • You’ll have access to specialist support through GMMH’s Dual Diagnosis Practitioner, along with Early Break’s in-house mentoring.

  • To access Housing First, you need to be referred into the service by your local authority, so the best place to start is the homelessness section of your local authority’s website.

    We have listed all of the homelessness web pages of the local authorities below:

  • Yes. We run tenancy sustainment workshops, peer-led mentor check-ins, and monthly social support groups.

  • Absolutely. This is a universal service regardless of gender identity, background, health status, or housing history.

  • Participants shape their own plans, set personal goals, and help refine the program. Your feedback determines what we do.

  • You can stay connected to Early Break in various ways listed below:

  • If you or someone you know needs urgent help, you can access our list of emergency and useful helpline numbers by clicking the Get Help Now. 

    This will open a quick-reference popup with 24/7 services and support lines for mental health, safeguarding, substance use, and crisis care.

From the Blog

Here’s a selection of articles from the blog related to our Housing First service.