17/09/13
Direct Action Stops Eviction in Lambeth Purge
Direct action by ‘shortlife’ housing co-op members and housing campaigners has forced Lambeth Council to cancel the eviction of vulnerable resident Charmain Lodge, due for this Thursday.
A lobby of the council leader, Cllr Lib Peck, at the Town Hall yesterday resulted in the climbdown.
Cllr Peck said to Charmain: “I have asked officers to work with you closely to find somewhere for you to live permanently.”
On the wider policy, Cllr Peck said that the council remain “committed to recalling shortlife properties” despite the fact that this could mean other vulnerable people reaching the same point of eviction.
Justice for Charmain still leaves a number of questions unanswered.
Why does it take this kind of pressure to get appropriate rehousing for long-term residents?
Why is the council persisting with a policy that will see others likely to reach this same position?
Why is the council not listening to members of its own group who have criticised the policy?
http://www.brixtonblog.com/senior-lambeth-officer-says-policy-is-to-make-life-difficult-for-shortlife-tenants-so-they-go-away-claims-labour-councillor/15969
Is the council happy that the sell-off of ‘shortlife’ only seems to be be benefitting discredited ex-politicians?!
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/vicky-pryce-politicks-while-chris-huhnes-househunting-8821858.html
Why is the council forcing people to move who have homes and therefore displacing other people on the housing waiting list when this is not necessary?
Some housing co-op residents have been in their homes since the 1970s, and are in their 70s, and will suffer at the hands of a ‘co-operative council’ as Lambeth likes to call itself.
The council’s purge of housing co-operatives threatens to destroy 6,800 years of community!
It must stop.
“Lambeth must be condemned for the way it has behaved to these long-standing residents.”
Kate Hoey MP
“I would most strongly urge the council to stop threatening their reisents in so-called ‘shortlife’ housing.”
Ruling Labour group councillor Helen O’Malley
“It’s time for Lambeth to think again and negotiate an honourable settlement with long-standing residents, one that it has shown no desire to so far.”
Vivienne Westwood to Lambeth councillors
“Next time I see Steve [Reed, former Lambeth council leader], I am going to encourage him to get a grip on matters before the project loses its credibility.”
One of Lambeth’s ‘Co-op Council’ Commissioners on the ‘shortlife’ issue
More information:
Lambeth United Housing Co-operative
Mobile: 07584 906161
Website: www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk
Twitter: @LambethUnited
Sign our petition here: http://tinyurl.com/nwkuvlr
16/09/13
Lambeth Council Forced to Re-think Eviction
A group of ‘shortlife’ housing co-op residents and local activists today handed in a petition to Lambeth Council leader, Cllr Lib Peck, at the Town Hall, Brixton, to demand that vulnerable resident Charmain Lodge not be evicted from her home of 14 years.
The group pledged to remain in the Town Hall until assurances could be given. As a consequence Cllr Peck undertook to speak to Lambeth’s director housing & regeneration, Sue Foster and expressed her hope that the eviction could be avoided with a suitable offer of rehousing. Cllr Peck said to Charmain Lodge that she would telephone her later today to let her know the outcome of her meeting with Sue Foster.
Charmain’s case is particularly sensitive because she is a very vulnerable woman with serious medical problems whose recovery is now under threat because of her precarious housing situation.
Her GP and other health workers have made submissions on her behalf appealing for the eviction threat to be lifted, but so far these appeals have all been rejected by the council.
Another delegation will be made to the Town Hall tomorrow if a satisfactory outcome is not achieved.
Meanwhile, the fight against the wider eviction policy of ‘shortlife recall’ continues.
What is going on in Lambeth?
Lambeth’s ‘co-operative’ council that is waging a community purge against 40-year-old self-reliant, skill-swapping housing co-operatives.
The eviction policy of ‘Shortlife Recall’ has been criticised by councillors, local MP Kate Hoey, local residents including Vivienne Westwood, Maggie Hambling and John Pilger, and even by some of the council’s own ‘co-operative’ commissioners.
“Lambeth must be condemned for the way it has behaved to these long-standing residents.”
Kate Hoey MP
“I would most strongly urge the council to stop threatening their reisents in so-called ‘shortlife’ housing.”
Ruling group councillor Helen O’Malley
Images & more information:
Lambeth United Housing Co-operative
Mobile: 07584 906161
Website: www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk
Twitter: @LambethUnited
Sign our petition here: http://tinyurl.com/nwkuvlr