Last week at midnight (00.01 24.1.24) I joined Newham Councillors, outreach workers and officers to take part in the bi-monthly Street Count of homeless residents sleeping outdoors. We met up at Newham Dockside building beforehand, had a briefing …Read more…
Less than 4 days to go before 26 Mile Homeless Charity walk in London
My wife Gill describes me looking like a condemned man in this photo!Now wishing that I had trained more and sorted out my walking gear earlier but it is too late now to do much about these things.I did a 10 mile walk from home to Chingford durin…Read more…
Homelessness crisis
The homelessness crisis, nationally and in Swindon, continues to worsen. More than 100,000 households are in temporary accommodation in England, … MoreRead more…
To cut a long story short – we won!
Hundreds of Unite members at homelessness charity St Mungo’s have just ended their long-running strike after accepting an inflation beating pay increase.
After three months of strike action and tireless campaigning, the workers have agreed to a pay increase which works out at 10.74 per cent based on a median wage or £3,125 in cash terms.
The post To cut a long story short – we won! appeared first on Unite Live.
Today’s top story…Strike ends at St Mungo’s
Today, Friday August September 25, Unite announced that after three months of strike action hundreds of workers employed by homelessness charity St Mungo’s have now ended their long running strike, after accepting a pay increase of 10.74 per cent.
The post Today’s top story…Strike ends at St Mungo’s appeared first on Unite Live.
The Housing Crisis: A possible positive way forward & a definite negative
On Thursday evening I took part in an informal discussion of a possible way to provide much needed homes for homeless families. The suggestion is largely untested at scale, extremely complex, potentially financially risky but may (repeat may) offer a “…Read more…
A Cold Spell
Although spiders’ webs froze on treesand overflows’ constant drip became shafts of iciclesLidia still bedded down in Kentish Townon cardboard under polystyrene Born in Bolivia her face lit upwhen someone spoke to her in SpanishHer heart gave out on TuesdayOn the railings a bouquet of red tulips For Lidia we gathered. We walked behind the […]
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A cold spell
Although spiders’ webs were frozen on treesAlthough the leaves had been dipped in iceAlthough waters’ constant drip turned into shafts of iciclesShe hunkered down on a pavement in Kentish TownOn cardboard ready to sleep under polystyrene Her name was Lidia or perhaps MariaHer birthplace BoliviaHer heart gave out on TuesdayShe lit up when someone spoke […]
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Newham Street Count: 17.11.22
Picture is of local volunteers, Council officers and Councillors about to go out at midnight on Thursday to take our part in the UK annual nationwide street count of people sleeping rough. We also had observers to verify our results from the civi…Read more…
Bad Regulation = Bad Landlords
Hat tip “Nearly Legal” and check out this sobering report on the regulation of private sector renting by the National Audit Office.
There are 4.4 million privately rented “households” in England. Those who have bad experiences of such renting may “fi…Read more…
“Why my council is refusing to help the Home Office deport rough sleepers” Emine Ibrahim
Hat tip to an excellent article in the Guardian by my UNISON comrade and Housing Lead for Haringey Council, Cllr Emine Ibrahim. I am sure that Newham Council will support this but I was not allowed to bring this issue up at last weeks Cabinet meeting w…Read more…
Newham Annual Rough Sleeping Winter Street Count 2020
On Thursday evening at 11pm I went to Newham Council Dockside Building, to be briefed and then take part, in the annual survey of the number of people sleeping on our streets. This is a national survey that all councils are expected to carry out …Read more…
Young people ‘consigned to the scrapheap’
Nearly 2m young people fear they will become homeless if they lose their jobs, new research has shown, adding to the growing evidence showing the coronavirus crisis has had a major impact on the UK’s…Read more…
Newham Rough Sleeper (Mini) Street Count June 2020
Pictures from last night’s Newham Rough Sleeping (mini) Street count with Councillors, Council officers and 3rd sector partners going out during the night to count how many rough sleepers there are. Usually this is done every two months.
Due to C…Read more…
Impact of Covid-19 on homeless
Lola works in housing and is a member of my UNISON branch. I have a clash tomorrow but I have sent Lola a 3 minute video with our experience in Newham London and some ideas about the future. I will be watching later to find out what is happening in Bir…Read more…
‘I’ve felt like I’m more at risk of exhaustion than COVID-19’
Homeless hostel team leader Sarah talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has made her and her colleagues’ jobs harder than ever
The article ‘I’ve felt like I’m more at risk of exhaustion than…Read more…
Stop Boris from stealing homes from low income families!
Despite the corona virus emergency we must also keep an eye out on what else the government is proposing.
UNISON has spotted that the Tories are proposing to stop local authorities using developers money (so called section 106 money) to fund homes for…Read more…
‘We just want to be listened to’
Homeless people are among the most vulnerable groups in society – indeed while the average person in the UK can expect to live well past 75, the average rough sleeper in Britain will be lucky to live…Read more…
‘No option but to walk out’
Workers at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s are gearing up for three days of strike action from March 16 to 18 inclusive, after last ditch talks, under the auspices of the conciliation service,…Read more…
Busy Labour Movement Day
This morning (Wednesday) started off with a 9am tour and presentation at Anchor House in Canning Town with Councillor colleagues. Anchor House is a former Seaman’s mission which is now is a charity that specialises in supporting single homeless adults….Read more…