The city council is working with Irwell Valley Housing Association, children's charity NCH and North Manchester Primary Care NHS Trust on a scheme for eight families who have long track records of neighbourhood disruption and homelessness.
The scheme will be modelled on the successful Dundee Families Centre, which has been running for five years.
Families will volunteer to enter the scheme but must agree to confront their behaviour and learn life skills.
The construction cost will be met with a Housing Corporation grant. Residents in the Collyhurst area where the scheme is to be built have been kept informed of developments.
The Dundee scheme, a partnership with NCH Scotland, was highly controversial when it began. It includes a centre for three families with 24-hour support, plus 12 dispersed homes where families can be granted a tenancy once they have established they can be good neighbours.
It has helped 80 families, none of whom have been evicted since attending the centre.
A study by Glasgow University found the scheme made net savings of £118,000 a year in legal and care costs, despite costing £345,000 a year to run.
Irwell Valley chief executive Tom Manion said: "Our scheme will be for the kind of families that are currently being hoovered up by the private sector where the problems continue. It will be the last chance saloon for some."
NCH assistant director of children's services north west John Postlethwaite added: "Experience has taught us that this type of intervention really works. It is far from being an easy option for the families involved. We work closely with families to tackle their difficulties head on, and help them to achieve long-term change."
Source
Housing Today
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