Download our Autumn 2019 newsletter to stay in-the-know on housing news and sign our Charter for Housing Action:

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Grenfell Never Again: the Daily Mirror newspaper and Fire Brigades Union have launched a campaign to make our homes safer. 

Sign the petition today and let us know if you can help link up with unsafe blocks in your area.

Petition Here: 

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/grenfell-never-again-keep-our-buildings-safe?source=mirror

Find out more information about the petition here:
https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2019/06/14/firefighters-launch-grenfell-never-again-campaign
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/grenfell-must-never-happen-again-16516937

The next Homes for All organising meeting is on 29th June 11am at:

Unite Office in Moreland St EC1V 8BB.   

Let us know if there’s anything you want to raise, or report.  And keep in touch to build the action where you are! Contact us here.

Whoever is the next Prime Minister, we need action on housing now. This week sees an MPs debate, and also marks the second anniversary of the terrible Grenfell fire.
On Thursday 13th  June MPs will debate radical plans to build 100,000 council homes a year.  Can you email your MP, ask them to attend the debate (from 2pm in Westminster Hall) and vote for the motion?   

Find MPs here: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

And if you are near London, there is a protest 2pm Parliament Square, to demand urgent action.  Join if you can.

On 6th June backbench MPs will debate the scandalous failure to rehouse Grenfell tenants or remove toxic waste, improve building and fire regulations, and remove dangerous cladding and other risks to homes.

We will join Grenfell and housing campaign groups at:

Parliament Square, London from 11am on the 6th of June 2019

Let’s demand action on homes, an end to housing deaths and Justice for all at Grenfell and those round Britain still threatened by cladding and building failures.

Please email your MP asking them to join the debate: https://www.mysociety.org/wehelpyou/contact-your-mp/

Friday 14th marks the Grenfell two year anniversary, with a Silent Walk in London:

7pm start: https://www.facebook.com/events/2408072305910220/

And in other cities and towns across the UK.

On the 15th June, Grenfell community organisations are holding a protest march to demand justice and action on toxic waste and rehousing.  We are backing this march, and invite local groups to invite a speaker, order leaflets and build support from others in your area. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/581265065709901/ 

We will be assembling at Downing Street, SW1 12 noon. Join us, with other tenant groups, trade unions and community organisation, to demand justice.

See leaflet: 

http://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/J4G-protest-15June-2019.pdf

Our next organising meeting is on 25th May 2019, 11am-1pm at:

Unite Office, Moreland St EC1V 8BB. 

Come along, or email ideas and reports from local housing action.

Plans from 27 April meeting: 

http://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/action-points_270419.pdf

Housing associations (HAs) – Stop Deregulation and Sell-offs

Let’s push to return Housing Associations to their roots and restore public regulation and accountability. 

Can your tenant, community, trade union or political party discuss this resolution?:
http://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/HAreregulation_motion2019.pdf

Notes: http://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/HAmotion_notes2019.pdf

And ask them to sign up to our Charter for Housing Action too: 

http://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/news/charter-for-housing-action-in-2019/

Get in touch for more details, leaflets or to discuss these plans.

More than 100 housing campaigners, tenant reps, doctors and health workers, trade union members and others came and made for a brilliant day of sharing ideas, being inspired and planning action. 

See the final action plan below.  Thanks to everyone who came and/or supported the event. 

Final Action Plan:

Support and build 15 June ‘Grenfell – Never Again’ protest march in central London

Demand grant funding for existing and new council housing.

We need an enforceable right to repairs for all tenants, linked to a regular inspection regime

Housing rights must be enacted and reinforced, with extended and strengthened independent tenant organisation

Back to campaigning – street stalls and action to expose Universal Credit, empty properties, temporary accommodation, NHS- and other public land sales or other local issues

Back the Charter for Housing Action in 2019 – get wider support and extend the alliance for action

Stop the deaths due to bad housing – event at parliament date tbc

Workshop action points:

A)     Universal Credit and benefit cuts

Stop and scrap Universal Credit

Scrap the Bedroom Tax and reinstate rent controls

Campaign to take the arguments out to people (including at job centres) and challenge the culture of blame and stigma

Demand commitment to no evictions due to benefit arrears – from councils, housing associations and private landlords

Lobby Labour and others including GPs organisations, for a change of policy on benefits

We need an accessible information and welfare rights network

B)      Housing Safety after Grenfell

Support and build a demonstration in central London 15 June: especially highlight housing and health contamination issues

Extend Freedom of Information Act to cover any private contractor delivering publicly-funded services or used by public bodies, eg HAs

Promote and distribute ‘Tower Blocks UK’ safety check list and encourage local distribution to tower blocks

Bring building regulation and controls back into public hands and extend tenant control

C)      Housing insecurity and mental/physical health wellbeing

Community action – link housing and health activists; protect community

Cost of housing crisis estimated at £100-£150,000 per head.  This needs to be invested in community health, including legal advice, community action, and decent, secure,affordable homes

Stand together – Unite!

• Watch one of our guest speakers Raquel Rolnik discuss her observations of Britain’s housing crisis in her role as a former United Nations Special Rapporteur:
  https://www.facebook.com/john.orr.94617/videos/10219312329548654/

Photos courtesy of Debbie Humphry.

Join us at the ‘Bad Housing Makes Us Sick’ event on March 30th in London.

This day of discussion with doctors, homeless campaigners and others will focus on how our housing problems are linked to growing mental and physical ill health. 

Raquel Rolnik, former UN Housing Rapporteur, who exposed the Bedroom Tax during her 2014 UK visit, will open the event.

She joins Guardian columnist Dawn Foster, campaigning doctors, Generation Rent, Fran Heathcote of PCS union, Deborah Garvie from Shelter, Justice for Grenfell and Ellen Clifford of Disabled People Against Cuts.

Please find the days programme here: Bad Housing Makes Us Sick programme

Time and Place of the event:

10 AM – 4PM at Unite The Union, Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB

Workshops planned for the day include:

• Universal Credit and Benefits Cuts, What They Are and How to Fight Them
• Housing Safety After Grenfell
• Housing Insecurity and Mental Health

Let us know if you want any publicity materials, and share the Event: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/2284784081740440/?notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1551003711364794

And book your place here: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bad-housing-makes-us-sick-tickets-57316748939?utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

We look forward to seeing you there,

Grassroots campaigns are stepping up across the UK. Support local action in your area and let’s make a stand on housing justice this year.

See the latest campaigns in Southend:

https://www.facebook.com/events/397368017708243/

Luton:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/320557735238286/

East London:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2284516195166382/

Please share and support these groups and also please sign and circulate this petition objecting to Housing Association homes being sold off:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-housing-association-sell-offs?source=facebook-share-button&time=1550412004&fbclid=IwAR0YlDQTTmAB2rbrfUXU_AKhuhqs7XC5TG5QDd_OLmDRlOcexfkiEY1vYn8

Send details of any housing actions in your community you want to share and publicise. Email us or contact us on social media.