During this crisis, housing campaigners need to be heard, we will not stay silent as the gross inequalities and cracks in the system are laid bare for all to see. Housing is a public health emergency. Our demands are as follows:

 

Open all empty homes now: families living in crowded temporary accommodation need long term stability and the space to get well.  We know of countless cases of families surviving in single rooms, like the families stuck in Brimstone House hostel.  We have been saying for 6 years to Newham Council -open all homes on Carpenters Estate now!

 

Provide long-term housing for those in temporary accommodation and for those who are street homeless.  To stay safe and well people need secure housing.

 

Long-term freeze on rental payments and evictions – find out more about your housing rights during the pandemic https://londonrentersunion.org/c19rentcrisis/

 

Give all our key workers the protective equipment they need – it is urgent to keep all our friends and families safe and protected.

 

It is important that we are stay connected to our local communities at this difficult time.  We encourage you to join a Mutual Aid group to find support near you:  https://covidmutualaid.org/

 

Focus E15 Campaign is committed to politically organising and taking action during the lockdown in the following ways:

 

EDUCATION and ORGANISING:  We are running a program of weekly political discussions, which we are calling  ‘virtual street stalls’, where we can stay in touch with each other and be up to date with the key issues around housing and Covid 19, in order to educate ourselves.  Every week we will  try and have an invited speaker, share an article or short video clip and discuss a different topic. We will also be hosting virtual special political meetings and online monthly campaign meetings. Please join us and spread the word!

 

Sat 11th April, virtual street stall:  EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS FROM INDIA

 

Sat 18th April, virtual street stall:  HISTORICAL FEMINISM and the fight against Domestic Violence during Covid-19

 

Sun 19th April, political meeting:  RECLAIM HOMES, from USA to UK.  Hosted by Moms 4 Housing in Los Angeles, and Focus E15 Campaign in London.

 

Sat 25th April, virtual street stall:  EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS FROM PALESTINE

 

Sat 2nd May, monthly campaign meeting: POLITICAL STRUGGLES IN LATIN AMERICA-   from Colombia to Cuba. Internationalism in the fight against Covid-19!

 

Please find details of all these events + Zoom call information by regularly checking the Focus E15 campaign’s Facebook page.