Responding to CNJ story of eviction of couple in £9K rent arrears

Members of Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group were saddened to read of the fuel-impoverishment driven eviction of Geoffrey and Carol Tracey from their Camden Council home in Swiss Cottage (CNJ, Thursday 20 August,p11).(1) Yet we would argue that a major part of the problem has been the “better off on housing benefit than work” rationale parroted by Carol. That rationale has been heavily promoted by those most responsible for the increasing divide between the wealthy and poorer members of society, and operates to weaken cooperative links between and within economically vulnerable sectors of society.

People on state benefits generally don't live lives of luxury and idleness, however much government ministers and right wing tabloid newspapers would have others believe. Amid a high-profile taxpayer-funded 'targeting benefit cheats' media campaign, a 2006 report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation pointed out that an understanding of why people feel the need to cheat the system must inform future tax and benefit reform.(2) Meanwhile, the 'allowable earnings limit' for single people aged 24+ on unemployment benefit/JSA had not increased from £5 per week since 1988. (It still has not!) That out-of-work benefit levels have not kept up with earnings and/or the greed and tardiness of utility companies and landlords cannot be laid at the feet of just one government — it has been going on since 1988!

Meanwhile, an upsurge of early morning queues outside CAB offices on high streets demonstrated the reality of masses of people in economic crisis. Yet now, with cuts in central government grants to local authorities, CAB offices have been moved off high roads where estate agent offices now festoon 'up-market' areas and legal loan shark offices and bettings offices litter less glamorous ones. And as 'talking with people dealing with public sector cuts' blogger and Honorary Member of Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group Member Kate Belgrave reports, 'It can be really hard to get welfare advice'.(3)

But there is 'good advice' and 'bad advice' both for citizens and governments and opposition parties wanting to 'reform the welfare state'. American health insurance company company Unum (formerly Unum Provident) has been 'advising' successive UK governments on 'welfare reform' since at least the mid-1990's,(4) and Labour Party Deputy Leadership contender Caroline Flint MP declares in her 'interests' that she has staff and office space sponsored by lobbyist firm Sovereign Strategy. Sovereign Strategy clients include Maximus, a corporation that profits from the 'welfare to work' industry.(5)

While we might anticipate Camden Council taking Geoffrey and Carol's eviction as their cue to sell a vacant property, we would commend anyone concerned about the level of their fuel bills to consult Fuel Poverty Action: Tel: 07751 748 026/07586 482 157; Email: fuelpovertyaction@gmail.com; Website: http://www.fuelpovertyaction.org.uk/ (6)

Notes

(1) http://www.camdennewjournal.com/sceviction

(2) http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2006/06/23/why-people-work-informally-while-claiming-benefits-special-report/

(3) http://www.katebelgrave.com/2015/08/it-can-be-really-hard-to-get-welfare-rights-advice/

(4) http://dpac.uk.net/2012/04/a-tale-of-two-models-disabled-people-vs-unum-atos-government-and-disability-charities-debbie-jolly/

and

http://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/THE%20HIDDEN%20AGENDA-a-research-summary-March-2013-FINAL.pdf

(5) https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-006&ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-&p=%22caroline%20flint%22%20%22sovereign%20strategy%22&type=

North London Coroner: vulnerable person took his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted by Genesis HA

North London Coroner's Court Letterhead

Page 1 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

I am required under the terms of Rule 43 of the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 to report to:
Claire Murdock,
Chief Executive,
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust,
Stephenson House
75 Hampstead Road
London NW1 2PL

---

And following the inquest touching the death of Nigel* Firminger heard before Coroner Andrew Walker at The Coroners Court sitting at Barnet on the 10th day of July 2013** and having heard evidence the Coroner had found that (b) the evidence gives rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur, or will continue to exist in the future and

(c) In the Coroner's opinion, action should be taken to prevent the occurence or continuation of such circumstances, or to eliminate or reduce the risk of death created by such circumstances,

the coroner may report the circumstances to a person who the coroner believes may have power to take such action.

The Circumstances

On the second of April 2012, Nigel Patrick Firminger was found at his former home having taken his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted and the effect that the eviction had on his mental health.

Mr Firminger was suffering from a mental health issues that were not known by the organisation providing his accommodation or the court dealing with the eviction.

It is against this background that H M Coroner begs to report that:

Consideration to be given to:-

A form that may be filled in by the staff conducting an assessment that the patient can take away with them that identifies that the person is to be considered vulnerable that can be passed to other agencies such as those providing accommodation.

Your attention is drawn to the following provisions:

Response to report under rule 43

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Page 2 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

43A, —(1) A person to whom a coroner sends a report under rule 43(1) must give the coroner a written response to the report containing—

(a) details of any action that has been taken or which it is proposed will be taken whether in response to the report or otherwise; or

(b) an explanation as to why no action is proposed

within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is sent.

Extension of time

43B. A coroner may extend the period of 56 days mentioned in rule 43A(1) (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired).

---

Signed this the 25th day of July 2013
(Coroner's signature and stamp)
by Coroner Adrew Walker

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Notes

* The coroner's spelling of Nygell's forename as 'Nigel' is as presented on the Rule 43 document, and differs from the 'Nygell' spelling given on the cremation service programme from September 2012.
** This was an adjourned hearing. The original November 2012 hearing was adjourned because, following KUWG's presentation of a leaflet outlining the circumstances leading to Nygell's death and the fact that Nygell's relatives were unable to attend on that occasion, the Coroner had declared that "new evidence" had come to light.

Tues 16/03/2015 demo supports supported housing workers

From Unite Community, London & Eastern Region

Protest Against the Eviction of Family Mosaic Staff from Their Jobs and Homes

 

Unite's Housing Branch is currently campaigning against Family Mosaic, a giant housing association that is threatening to evict three of its staff from their homes. These staff live in tied accommodation due to the work that they do. Please could you come along to the protest and let others know too. 

 

Protest at the Homes For Britain event on Tuesday 17th March. Meet at Westminster tube (exit 4) at 12.45.

 

Over 2,000 people are expected at the event and our protest is therefore likely to have an impact if we can gain a bit of visibility. Please do share as widely as possible.

https://www.facebook.com/events/608527315950603/

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Background

As part of its response to cuts in funding from Hackney Council the association has told staff they may lose their homes by April.

 

Unite Regional Officer Adam Lambert has said “We have real fears that the actions of Family Mosaic could make people homeless. We have been seeking assurances for our members and have thus far been disappointed that the employer has not felt able to give staff clarity and security. We would have hoped that Family Mosaic would take more care to examine alternatives before booting people out of their homes in the current economic climate.”

 

Unite members are clear that cutting these posts will have a serious and detrimental effect on the lives of vulnerable people who will lose the regular, face-to-face contact with support tenants who are employed to assist them. Removing support tenants would increase the pressure on mental health and generic health services, increase the workload for already overloaded social work teams, and would lead to increased isolation and problems such as debts and benefit problems.

We are protesting because giant housing association Family Mosaic is holding the threat of homelessness over the heads of its staff who work as support tenants and reside in Family Mosaic accommodation.

 

Unite is calling on Family Mosaic to take stock and rethink their plans, retaining these vital roles in recognition of the valuable service they provide to the local community.

0 hrs carework, rent arrears, eviction?

Latest from Kwug's Honorary Member Kate Belgrave shows how litlle careworkers are appreciated. Those who look after vulnerable people are often made more vulnerable by the State and employers than by the people they care for.

"It's the poor what gets the blame"

 24, careworker on zero hours and facing eviction from Focus E15

Posted on November 9, 2014

This afternoon, I spent several hours talking with a 24-year-old woman who is in rent arrears at the Focus E15 hostel and must appear in Bow County Court tomorrow at 2pm to try and stop her eviction from the hostel. If that fails, she’ll be evicted on Tuesday by East Homes. (East Homes is part of the East Thames Housing Group – if you like, give them a shout here @EastThamesGroup to ask them why they think homelessness is an acceptable option for young people who are already struggling, especially with winter approaching). If the eviction goes ahead, this young woman is pretty sure she will be out on the streets. She is probably right. She’s facing eviction from a homelessness hostel, which will make her – err, homeless. This woman suffers from depression. She is young and she is not rich. She’s in arrears and she will be punished. She has nowhere to go if she must leave Focus E15.
“I haven’t got anywhere else, because the only people I know are in the [Focus E15] hostel.” she says. “I want them [East Homes] to give me a month, or maybe two months to show that I can pay some of the money.” ...

Continue reading on Kate's blog, that carries a post-court-appearance update on this story...

See also Benefit claimants need firmer safeguards, not tougher sanctions

TODAY IS THE SECOND BIRTHDAY OF TAXPAYERS AGAINST POVERTY  

​From Rev'd Paul Nicolson, who chairs and founded the Taxpayers Against Poverty

T​hank you to 5285 supporters, so far, who have liked our Facebook page and what we stand for since the page was started on the 18th February 2012 and to the 370 members who have signed up on our website since the following letter was published by The Guardian

A TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE.

The Guardian, Thursday 16 February 2012 21.00 GMT

Ministers at the Department of Work and Pensions repeat ad nauseam their mantra: "It is not fair for taxpayers to be asked to pay for the cost of spare bedrooms, or housing benefit which is high in central London because rents are high etc, etc." Therefore the poorest citizens are thrust into unmanageable debt by caps and cuts in housing benefit, possible eviction, forced migration, undue stress and misery. 

As a citizen who pays income and council tax, VAT and the excise duty on my evening glass of wine, I steam with indignation each time I am used by ministers to justify such draconian measures making people poorer.

I am glad my taxation is used to enable my fellow citizens, both in and out of work, to buy enough food, clothes, fuel, transport and other necessities, to pay council tax and the rent of secure homes, when they have no other means to do so; and bewildered by the short-sightedness of a policy which deliberately reduces the totally inadequate adult JSA of £67.50 a week (now £71.70) by creating rent arrears, with debt-related mental health problems and high extra costs for a hard-pressed NHS.

The self-evident unfairness is the current policy of dumping national debt and deficit reduction on the incomes of the squeezed middle and poorest citizens, while the higher-paid taxpayers experience no financial inconvenience. 

Meanwhile the OECD reports that $11.5 trillion, including bonuses, is parked in overseas accounts and the Treasury is aware that £100bn of property in central London alone is registered overseas – both out of reach of the taxman. That really is unfair. I hope thousands will join Taxpayers Against Poverty, TAP, to say so loud and clear. All we need is an email.

Rev Paul Nicolson

Taxpayers Against Poverty

93 Campbell Road, 

Tottenham, 

London N17 0BF

0208 3765455

07961 177889

also at www.z2k.org 

also at www.prohousingalliance.com

www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/53579www.facebook.com/pages/Taxpayers-Against-Poverty/299911526728884

https://twitter.com/taxpayers_a_p

Please sign our petition cel

​e​

brating

​ Martin Luther King. ​

Parliament is asked to debate the speech made by Martin Luther King 50 Years ago in Washington USA on the 28 August 1963 and to note that it can be applied to circumstances in Britain in August 2013. He said “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”