Homelessness is one of the biggest problems facing Manchester.

There are lots of different views on how to solve what is a complex problem.

But one voice rarely heard is that of someone who has actually lived on the streets.

Mooch, from Blackley, is aged 61 and ended up sleeping rough when he left prison.

He believes that understanding what it's like to be homeless is crucial to tackling the problem - and has some advice on how you can make a difference.

"Don't ever give them money, clothes, food or anything," Mooch explains.

"What I tell people to do, go on the Street Support app, if he's asking for food, get the app, go on it, and see where's open and serving breakfast, serving tea."

(Image: Sean Hansford)

Anyone can download the free Street Support Network app to their mobile phone to help meet the needs of homeless people on the streets. You can choose between services - such as accommodation, advice, meals and food banks - and find them quickly on an interactive map.

"The food is from some of the best chefs in Manchester, they're just giving something back to the community," Mooch adds.

"And if they don't go – ask them next time, did you not enjoy the cooking? This has worked, I know people, they've got the support there and give them the tools for the job."

Mooch, who is now involved with homeless charities including Street Support and Big Change, found himself homeless when he came out of prison in 2014.

"I grew up in the middle 50s and 60s in Blackley in the pre-fabs," Mooch recalls. "From around '98 to 2010 I had a lot of money."

What were you doing, we ask? "I can't tell you that! I was working," Mooch laughs.

He continues: "I went on the streets when I came out of prison, when I came out of prison I had the intention to go back to the things that I normally do, but I didn't. For some reason I just stayed away from it.

"I had a few nights on the streets, I found it more tiring, walking around like that, even for a bloke like me."

"It was scary, you know."

"People have got to know what it's like on the streets, it's not all about begging and getting drugs. There's a lot more to it. I've had mental issues all my life – when the doctor worked me off 'em – I was prescribed anti-depressants but they were really addictive."

(Image: Sean Hansford)

"In January... they put me in Newbury House [supported accommodation for homeless people experiencing issues with alcohol dependency] run by Riverside, and that set me on the road to it."

It was here that Mooch was put in contact with local grassroots charites.

"Through people like Jez [from Mustard Tree]– and Eleanor from Riverside. I went from the Mustard Tree through the project for 20 weeks.

"...Jez asked would I join him on these questions he was asking to facilitate the homeless charter, so I said yeah, It's just gone from there really....I found him really inspiring.

"I've just changed the people from what I used to know to nice people, if you know what I mean. That's why I've stuck with the volunteering – because I go to bed with a smile and wake up with a smile.

"I used to break the law and now I just break the rules."

Mooch also believes that telling people's stories plays a huge part in helping people deal with homelessness.

He has been working with Manchester Street Poem, an exhibition conceived by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith from Underworld, and co-created by Jez Green, which gathers the stories of homeless people, and displays them both physically and digitally.

(Image: Sean Hansford)

A part of the Manchester International Festival, the week-long exhibit saw the stories of homeless people in Manchester written verbatim on the walls of a makeshift gallery in the Northern Quarter by Karl.

"We got a core group and laid out the idea that we would draw attention to this digital library on which would be gathered the people's stories of homelessness," Karl explains.

The exhibition has been staffed by people like Mooch, who not only told his story, but is now using his experiences to help others to get off the streets.

Although the exhibition has ended, the stories are being displayed online permanently at mcrstreetpoem.com .

"The next bit will be raising money, selling off chunks of this artwork to raise money to sustain the website, so that can grow," says Karl.

"I was really clear when we were talking to M.I.F that I didn't want the art circus to roll into town and then leave. We had to leave something behind, there had to be a legacy. And the legacy of this project was the website."

"The key is that we have to leave behind this important receptacle of stories."

To donate to the Greater Manchester mayor’s Homelessness Fund go to www.gofundme.com/gm-mayoral-fund

The M.E.N. has pledged to support and publicise the Manchester Homelessness Charter at appropriate opportunities. If you are affected by issues surrounding homelessness in any way, or if you want to do something to help, you can go to: streetsupport.net .