Guest Article from The Wythenshawe Reporter: Figures revealed by the End Child Poverty coalition, on the 24 January, show that in the five local authority wards in Wythenshawe around 34 per cent of youngsters are in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. The campaign blames the shockingly high levels of poverty in the […]
‘Be the change you wish to see’ – Manchester’s squatters are doing just that
The idea that ownership breeds value is essentially true. However, it is not true in the Thatcherite sense, where ownership is the means to the end of an individualistic anti-society. It is true if you develop an area which’s express purpose is to be the collective property of those who inhabit it or utilise it, […]
Andy Burnham describes a ‘humanitarian crisis’ as 42% rough sleeping increase across Greater Manchester revealed
Mayor Andy Burnham yesterday described the 42% increase in rough sleeping across Greater Manchester between 2016 to 2017 as a “humanitarian crisis”. The increase was revealed in the official rough sleeping statistics for England released by the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government. Burnham criticised a number of central government policies, which he blames […]
Manchester squatters plan to take Tate Liverpool by storm
A group of Manchester squatters plan to take Tate Liverpool by storm this Friday, with a film screening and performances inspired by their personal experience of the housing crisis, homelessness and squatting in Manchester. The screening/performance, called Humanity Jam001, was created by the production team Established Beyond, who describe themselves as “video activists, creative minds […]
‘No compassion’ as Manchester homeless squat evicted
Guest article from the Salford Star: Monday’s early morning eviction of a squat above the BefFred shop opposite Manchester Town Hall has been roundly condemned by housing campaigners, as 17 homeless people were put back on the streets. Greater Manchester Housing Action stated “shame on whoever it was that made the decision to evict”; while […]
Manchester sees nearly 400% rise in B&B homeless accommodation costs in five years
Manchester City Council paid 392% more on emergency B&B accommodation for the homeless in 2016/17 than it did in 2011/12. The increasing costs are due to a huge rise in the number of nights accommodation per year paid for by the council in their attempt to reduce the rising levels of homelessness; a pattern seen […]
Hulme community activist evicted after long battle with social landlord
Ringing last orders, on the bell acquired from the now closed Grants Arms pub in Hulme, Captain Cae 0s was evicted from the flat he called home in the Bentley House estate in Hulme (AKA The Redbricks). This was the culmination of an epic struggle with his social landlord, dating back to early 2015, when […]
Lifeshare, the homeless charity facing homelessness needs help
Manchester homeless charity Lifeshare is in need of a new home due to the controversial development plans for Angel Meadows. Up to 756 private rented sector apartments will be built there under the control of an offshore tax haven registered company called Far Eastern Consortium International Ltd. Due to the development, Lifeshare’s home for over […]
Austerity: the false economy increasing homelessness (part two)
Second article in ‘The Meteor Explores: Homelessness in Manchester‘ series. Part one of this story can be viewed here: The safety net of the ‘cradle to grave’ welfare state, implemented by Atlee’s government after the Second World War, is becoming increasingly threadbare due to the economic and humanitarian degradations of austerity. Increasing numbers in the […]
As Manchester gets no affordable housing from developers, Shelter urges end to planning evasion
Guest article from the Salford Star: Research by housing charity Shelter has shown that where ‘viability assessment’ has been used by developers in planning, 79% of affordable homes have been lost. Shelter looked at planning applications for eleven councils, including Manchester where no affordable houses were provided as developers used the get-out. Separate research by […]