January 2019 Briefing and Next General Meeting – February 16th, London
In January we welcomed the Shelter commission report ‘Building for our future – A vision for social housing’ and the recommendations for:
• A 20 year programme of investment to build 3.1 million social homes
• New, effective regulation of all landlords
• Tenant organisation or tenant unions
• Reforming private renting, including ending Section 21 evictions
We think this needs to include:
• A clear commitment to build 100,000 council homes a year for rent at social rent with secure tenancies
We will campaign for all political parties to include a commitment to implement these recommendations, in their next election manifestos. Alongside this, we will actively support a campaign to implement the Shelter recommendations, and push for more action – now and in the future – to ensure a society where everyone has a safe, secure home they can afford.
We will be working with TUC London East and South East to create wider support and action on this, and on the detailed action points from the Housing Summit.
If you can, come to our next organising meeting on 16th February 2019 11am at:
Unite office
33-37 Moreland St, London EC1V 8BB
All welcome to help organise action in 2019. Or email any questions or suggestions. Please see our decisions from the last meeting:
http://www.axethehousingact.
Next General Meeting – January 12th 2019, London
We are meeting next Saturday 12th January 10am at Unite office 33-37 Moreland St London EC1V 8BB (note earlier time and venue – near Old Street station).
We will finish in time for people who want to take part in the National demonstration: Britain is Broken – General Election Now! 12.30pm BBC Portland Place London. Meet with banners opposite new BBC entrance in Langham Place W1B 2QS
This open organising meeting will make action plans, based on the Key Campaign Points (see below) from the “Safe, Secure Homes for All” summit on 8 December. We agreed then that whatever 2019 brings, we won’t allow the housing crisis – and the millions of people who are suffering because of it – to be forgotten. If there’s an election, we need to make sure housing is high on the agenda.
Two new leaflets you can download here, or get in touch for print copies:
Briefing – Beware fake council housing:
http://www.axethehousingact.
Anti racist leaflet
http://www.axethehousingact.
See you on Saturday, email us any actions and campaign news from your local area.
Safe, Secure Homes for All Summit – Action Points for 2019
The 2018 summit was an important landmark in our on-going campaign to win safe, secure Homes for All. About 180 people attended during the day, from a wide-range of places, campaigns and backgrounds. We want to develop this broad-based alliance in the coming year.
2019 is bound to be one of political uncertainty. But whatever happens, we won’t allow the housing crisis – and the millions of people who are suffering because of it – to be forgotten. If there’s an election, we need to make sure housing is high on the agenda.
Key Campaign Points form the Safe Secure Homes for All summit 8 December 2018:
Resisting Estate Demolitions
1. The Right to Stay Put
2. Fair Ballots
3. Link up campaigns on different estates
4. End two-tier tenancies
5. No social or ethnic cleansing
Housing Associations (HAs)
1. Accountability to residents
2. Democratise HAs
3. Direct government funding for new and existing homes
4. More campaigning and protests
Safety
1. No combustible or toxic cladding, internal or external, on homes of all heights, with guaranteed protection from cold while cladding and insulation are off
2. Sprinklers on all blocks above four storeys
3. Government to pay for all essential safety works, as promised
Private Renters
1. Charter of Rights to include:
2. End Section 21 evictions
3. Secure tenancies
4. Stop overcrowding
5. Rent controls
Universal Credit (UC)
1. No evictions by councils due to rent arrears caused by UC
2. Councils to call for same commitment from HAs
3. Build a national network of support
Investing in Council Housing
1. Government must adopt a national investment plan
2. Tenants must make demands on council landlords through independent organisation
National Housing Summit – December 8th 2018, London: Programme
The full timetable for the day can be found here, or see below:
http://www.axethehousingact.
Tea, coffee and beigels available at lunch and please let us know if you can bring food to share, or bring your own packed lunch if you prefer.
Safe and Secure Homes Summit – December 8th 2018, London
Our Secure and Safe Homes Summit will take place on 8th December from 11am at:
The National Education Union, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BD
This year’s summit will be a day of workshops and talks, with guest speakers and housing campaign groups from across the UK. It will be a space to discuss the continuing housing crisis which a specific focus on the safety of our homes and the secure, safety needs of the homes of the future.
Prospective workshops include:
- Housing Associations and safety
- Effective action
- Universal Credit, arrears and evictions
- Rents and repairs
- Private renters
- Fire safety and tower blocks
- Trade Unions and Tenants and Residents Associations
More details to follow soon. If you would like to contribute or volunteer on the day or help spread the word, please get in touch.
Support and bookings for our National Housing Summit 8 Dec are mounting – the Fire Brigades Union, TUC London East and South East, Generation Rent and London Renters Union are the latest to confirm they are taking part.
We aim to include an extra session on the rising use of Temporary Accommodation.
Please join and share the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/
and by email, and get in touch if you want leaflets sent to you.
This was the main focus of our lively organising meeting last Saturday, which came up with lots of action decisions – see:
http://www.axethehousingact.
We’re also planning a ‘Housing and Health’ half-day event in Feb 2019 – let us know if you want to get involved in this.
Next General Meeting – November 10th, London
Join us next Saturday to finalise plans for two big events. You can
pick up the new leaflet for the National Housing Summit – including the impressive list of speakers and workshops: https://tinyurl.com/yd87etf5
Meeting to be held on Saturday 10th November, 11am at London Unite office 33-37 MORELAND STREET EC1V 8BB near Old St (note new venue).
If you can’t make it, let us know if you want leaflets, and email with any suggestions and updates.
A week later, housing groups will meet from 11.30am opposite BBC entrance, with banners and placards, to say Migrants did not cause the housing crisis – we reject racism and fascism. Our contingent will march on the National unity demonstration: https://tinyurl.com/y93nmv3w.
Join us – and spread the word!
‘No demolition without permission’, mobilised 2-300 people and lots of
banners at last Saturday’s London City Hall protest.
See : https://tinyurl.com/y7ytjx9q
People were keen to join together and step up the action – hopefully
many will be at the Housing Summit on the 8th December:
https://tinyurl.com/yd87etf5
With desperate housing pressure mounting, and the issue back at the
heart of the political agenda, now is the time to come together, work
out our common ground and next steps – and refuse to be divided by
tenure, geography or by racism.
Next General Meeting – October 27th 2018, London
Our next organising meeting will be held on Saturday, 27th October, from 11am at:
The TUC (ground floor canteen area), Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3LS
(five minutes from Tottenham Court Road tube station).
Key issues to discuss include:
1. Building and organisation for the “No Demolition Without Permission” protest at London City Hall on 3rd November:
https://preview.tinyurl.com/
2. Planning and building for the national “Safe, Secure Homes for All” summit on 8th December .
Leaflets for both of the above will be available for you to take away and circulate.
The deadline for responses to the latest Government Green Paper on housing – https://tinyurl.com/y8r4pg56 – is 6 November.
Send in responses- you can use Homes for All outline here: https://tinyurl.com/ydg77re7
City Hall 3 Nov – No demolition without a ballot!
Join the rally 12 noon 3 Nov at City Hall London SE1 2AA, to demand a ballot for all estates facing demolition (at least 82 in London). Help get the word out – for leaflets call 020 7622 7201 or email fmilson119@gmail.com
No Demolition Without Permision – Rally at City Hall, London 3rd November 2018
Sign our petition to halt demolitions of our social housing estates:
We are building and supporting a protest taking place at City Hall, London 12 noon on Saturday 3rd November.
For further context to this critical issue, watch the BBC programme Inside Out (3rd Sept, link below) which revealed 8-10 London estates are scheduled for full or partial demolition:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/