By Veronica Harradence (@v_harradence) ACORN Grassroots housing movements can change a city. This is a sentiment that has inspired individuals across Manchester to form their own branch of ACORN. ACORN, a housing and anti-poverty union, currently run in Manchester by volunteers, aim to support and win campaigns. We are group of people who passionately work …
By James Scott Vandeventer (@jamesvand) Steady State Manchester Manchester’s skyline is changing. Fast. While the dominant narrative is that dozens of the buildings transforming this skyline aim to provide more housing in the city centre, the recent report From Homes to Assets: Housing financialisation in Greater Manchester by Dr Jonathan Silver makes clear that these …
By Loz Kaye (@LozKaye) Housing is a political concern that touches everybody. Homelessness was the hot topic of the Greater Manchester mayoral election. Planning battles dominate the local media currently. Towers spring up and heritage buildings crumble. It has been very difficult to get a handle on a very complex picture, particularly in the rapidly …
The Manchester Renters Forum, 01.03.18, 6:30-9pm, The Mechanics Institute. Led by renters for renters, the Renters Forum will give those struggling to access or live in the private rented sector the opportunity to speak directly to policy makers and demand for change. The initiative, the first of its kind in the city, has received the …
By Jonathan Silver (@InvisibleMapper) Who is a city’s housing for? That is the question that elected officials, policymakers and residents in Greater Manchester should be asking. The housing crisis in the city-region has been noticeable and visible to all those who live and visit central Manchester and Salford. Dozens of homeless struggle to survive …
By Isaac Rose (@wouldntdaremate) Anybody who lives in or visits Manchester cannot avoid seeing the stark reality of the city’s housing crisis – a large and growing homeless population. Homelessness is the product of a failed housing system, but is only the most visible element of a wider crisis. Rising rents, compulsory purchase orders and social cleansing, and …
By Isaac Rose (@wouldntdaremate) Over the past 5 years of my life, I have been a renter. My experience of living in rented accommodation has not often been great. Mould, damp, cramped conditions and absentee landlords aren’t unusual. Short-term tenancies have meant that I have moved house each year, with significant disruption and often a …
By GMHA (@gmhousingaction) Councillor John Blundell strongly proposed in Manchester Confidential that Manchester City Council should start fining “aggressive beggars” as it is “the only solution” to what he describes as “organised begging”. His use of the term “beggar” comes off the back of Manchester City Council leader Richard Leese in his leader’s blog describing Christmas as “peak begging …
