The town hall meeting that really matters for 1,905 Manchester families and 8,000 children
Manchester council could back the Manchester Evening News and Manchester World campaign calling on Andy Burnham to give some homeless children free bus passes.
The M.E.N. and Manchester World has called on the mayor to introduce a free bus pass for children in temporary accommodation more than 30 minutes’ walk from school since August. School leaders say homeless children often struggle to make it to class because they are placed in temporary accommodation miles from home.
Government rules say children are only eligible for free school travel if they live more than two miles from class, and there is no ‘suitable school’ nearer. But it’s almost-impossible to be further than three miles from a school in the city — so families are ineligible, and need to choose between paying for buses or moving schools.
There are 1,905 Manchester families in temporary accommodation according to the latest data, with 8,000 children in temporary housing across Greater Manchester.
Real progress could be made next week after a motion was submitted by the Green Party to Manchester council, asking the town hall to formally back the bid.
Coun Astrid Johnson, Manchester Greens leader, said: “I am so glad that the M.E.N. has raised this issue. A lack of social and truly affordable housing affects so many Mancunians.
“Some of our most heartbreaking casework as councillors involves families experiencing homelessness, and the challenges children living in temporary accommodation face in travelling to school.
“We speak regularly with local headteachers and schools already do what they can to help. [It’s] welcome new protections for renters are coming into effect in May, but more is needed to support homeless children in the meantime.
“Providing free or fully funded travel across Greater Manchester for children living in temporary accommodation would help keep these children in school and give them much-needed stability at a pivotal time in their lives. Until everyone has a safe and stable home, the least we can do is support families and children with this simple but meaningful measure.”
Mancs can lend their support to the campaign by signing our petition.
Although the motion is expected to enjoy support from opposition councillors, it will require Labour’s backing to secure a majority to pass. If it is adopted, council leader Bev Craig will need to write to the mayor’s office to express the authority’s support for the campaign as Mr Burnham has no role in running Manchester council.
Previously (December 3, 2025), the mayor said he was ‘sympathetic’ to the cause: “What might open the door is we are moving to a more interventionist space as a combined authority when we signed off using 400 empty properties to reduce the bill in temporary accommodation.
“As part of the support packages there’s an opportunity to link the two. I cannot say more than that because we are in discussions over the budget which come to a head in January… we have a lot of things to consider. We are looking at all of it. I am sympathetic.”