Solidarity for Grenfell
The Grenfell Inquiry opens on Thursday September 14th and we have been asked to take part in two solidarity events:
14 September: 9.30am – Grenfell solidarity protest on first day of Inquiry, at Connaught Rooms 61-65 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5DA
And at 6.30pm – join the Silent March with survivors, families and supporters, meet at Notting Hill Methodist Centre, 240 Lancaster Road, W11 4AH
Justice for Grenfell: Safe Homes For All – Meeting at Labour Party Conference, September 25th 2017
At Labour’s 2017 conference, Axe The Housing Act alongside the TUC and Defend Council Housing will host a meeting with speakers including Ken Loach, Steve Turner and Emma Dent Coad.
Also at the conference, a ‘contemporary motion’ on housing calls on councils not to demolish estates. Ask any delegates to prioritise this motion for debate at conference.
Let us know if you can help at the conference:
Sat 24th to Mon 25th: Brighton Leafletting, lobby and talk to those at Labour conference and fringe event.
Next Organising Meeting – 9th September 2017, London
Now is the time to sharpen the weakened Government’s focus on housing. We want commitment to control rents, secure homes for all, and repeal the Housing and Planning Act.
Our next ‘Back To Action’ organising meeting will be held on
September 9th 2017 11am at:
Blemindsbury Tenants Hall, Dombey St WC1N 3PF
11-1pm Next plans for campaign, reports ( against Notting Hill/Genesis merger, demolition threats, others)
1-2.30pm Fire safety – link up to win (Ledbury, Chalcotts, Salford, East London blocks and others)
We are widening the campaign, to demand action on safety, security, against demolitions and mergers and for the homes we need, as well as scrapping the Housing Act 2016. All are welcome – please pass an invite to other campaigners, and help create a linked up housing movement.
See our latest 10-point action plan here:
http://www.axethehousingact.
See map: https://postcodefinder.guide/postcode/WC1N-3PF/
Repeal The Act: Motion of Support
With pressure mounting, we urge the Labour Party to formally support the repeal of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Show your support by passing a resolution at your trade union, political or community organisation. Motion template below.
Let us know if it’s passed – email:
info@axethehousingact.org.uk
” This [organisation] agrees the Housing and Planning Act (2016) and the subsequent Housing White Paper is a grave threat to all social housing and will greatly worsen the present serious housing crisis.
We urge the Labour Party to move a repeal bill repealing the Housing and Planning Act (2016)”
‘Justice for Grenfell’ – Public Meeting, July 12th, London
The terrible Grenfell fire and the failed response of local and national Government, is now exposing the lethal mix of cuts, neglect and refusal to listen to residents, across Britain.
In hundreds of meetings, people are attempting to hold landlords to account and force them to act. Several councils have committed to fit sprinklers in all tower blocks: these include Birmingham, Sheffield, Croydon, Southampton.
We are co-sponsoring a London-wide meeting on Grenfell and fire safety, with Matt Wrack of Fire Brigades union, Kevin Courtney of Teachers union, tenant groups and campaigners.
This meeting will be held on July 12th, 6.30 pm at the Somers Town Community Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1EE.
Please invite local residents and others concerned to secure justice for Grenfell and safety in our homes, schools and hospitals.
Also on Wednesday 19 July
From 6-8pm
Justice for Grenfell – Protest at Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall, London W8 7NX
MARCH FOR HOMES – JUNE 24TH 2017, 12PM Parliament Square
Millions voted for change on June the 8th, including a new approach to housing.
With the government and its Housing and Planning Act now in paralysis, we push forward with our demand for decent, secure homes and rent control for all.
The terrible Grenfell fire is exposing criminal failures and neglect, savage cuts to public services and the refusal of this and many landlords, to listen to tenants.
Join the movement on Saturday June 24th 2017 at 12pm. Parliament Square, London SW1
Justice for Grenfell 16/06/17
Justice for Grenfell Protest
6pm, Friday 16th June at:
The Department for Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF
At least 17 people have died in the fire at Grenfell Tower. They deserve justice. We demand answers.
See Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/
Tenants die when landlords don’t listen.
Vote for Homes Protest on Downing Street, May 2017
A ‘Vote for Homes’ protest marched to Downing Street today.
The noisy protest put housing as a central issue in the coming election. Council, housing association and private renter tenants, trade unions, homeless and community campaigns, joined to demand action to control rents, build council homes and scrap the Housing and Planning Act 2016, which threatens existing and future tenant rights and homes.
A letter signed by film maker Ken Loach, academic and author Danny Dorling, the Bishops of Stepney, Southwark, Croydon and others, Generation Rent, Demolition Watch London, plus trade unions and many others, was symbolically delivered to 10 Downing Street.
See letter with signatures here:
http://www.axethehousingact.
Launching the ‘Housing at the Crossroads’ election letter earlier, supporters explained why they signed the letter:
Tawanda Nyabango, secretary of the West Ham and Canning Town One Housing Tenants and Residents Association, said:
“We are coming together to fight for our rights. Nurses and teachers facing a 40 per cent rent rise demand, have had their pay capped so their real income is falling. We want to link up with tenants of other housing associations, and trade unions, to build a bigger housing campaign movement.”
Jelane Stevic, tenants’ campaign St Michael’s Gate Peterborough sent a message:
“Nearly all the people who lived in St Michael’s Gate a year ago have lost their home. It could be you next. Past governments have failed us. That’s why I’m supporting this statement and demanding decent, secure homes and rent control for all.”
Niall Mulholland, of London Cooperative Housing Group, said:
“All parties in this election need to commit to scrap the Housing and Planning Act, and invest massively in social housing. Housing co-ops are an important part of the housing we need, and need land to develop more. They do not replace council and housing associations and that’s why we are part of this movement. The Housing Act 2016 is still a threat.”
Judith Amanthis, of Housing Association Residents Action, said:
“Housing associations are being deregulated due to the Housing and Planning Act. They are pushing up rents: Genesis is demanding a 177 per cent rent increase from secure tenants, many pensioners. The National Housing Federation is just acting as a bosses’ club for housing associations. The Housing Association Residents Action group wants to help link up HA groups.”
Seb Klier, of Generation Rent, said:
“There are more private renters in the UK than voted for the last Government. Private renting is now a cause of poverty and homelessness. People aren’t moving into it as a lifestyle choice, it’s because there’s no alternative. We want rent controls – not just caps – and security from eviction for private renters. We also want to see more council housing, and to link our housing campaigns together. We need an organised, mass private renters movement – it will be a massive force for change if we are organised.”
Suz Muna, Unite Housing Workers
“We need to link housing campaigns to the wider campaigns against austerity. This election is a clear choice for all of us, as housing workers, tenants and leaseholders.”
John Grier, Leeds Hands off our Homes, said:
“I remember when I first saw the film ‘Cathy come Home’ and it made me cry. We are going back to those days. I was privileged to grow up in council housing – now in Leeds there is spreading homelessness everywhere and 25,000 on the housing waiting list. This is not a London crisis – it’s a national housing crisis.”
Paul Burnham, Haringey DCH campaign against demolition, said:
“The key thing we have to win is a vote for residents before any estate can be demolished. We have a right! The demolition of council housing must stop – it’s social cleansing.”
Eileen Short of Axe the Housing Act, which co-ordinated the letter and protest, said:
“The election matters. And whatever the result, we will be back here on 24 June. The pressure of campaigns has helped put housing on the political agenda. We are determined to keep it there.”
All Photographs by Debbie Humphry.