Housing Emergency - defending lifetime tenancies and opposing cuts to housing benefit

After the successful launch of Housing Emergency's Time for an Alternative, tenants and trade unions are joining with others around the country.
Meetings bringing together local campaigners are being organised in: 27 Feb Colchester, 5 March Richmond & Kingston, 16 March Cambridge, 29 March Harlow, 14 April Tower Hamlets, with others planned in Bolsover, Southampton, Sheffield, York and Newcastle.

27 Feb 2012

Sign the Housing Emergency Statement here

25 Feb 2012

Council Housing is the Alternative

At a packed 130+ Housing Emergency meeting Ken Loach condemned benefit and rent policies. Author Owen Jones joined DCH, MPs and union leaders calling for investment instead in council housing.The meeting 21st Feb at House of Commons, launched a new alliance to oppose evictions, challenge attacks on tenants and demand new council and other house building for rent.
London Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone, Ken Loach and trade union General Secretaries have joined tenants organisations to support a Housing Emergency open statement .

Download for more.

23 Feb 2012

Get Your MP To Sign EDM 1389

Ask your MP to sign NEW Early Day Motion 2677 in Parliament. See Housing Emergency - Time for an Alternative here.
Email your MP and ask local union and tenant groups, councillors and campaigners to lobby their MPs too.

Download for more.

22 Feb 2012

Protest at parliament at new Localism Act

Tenants joined trade unions, MPs and councillors and campaigners for Travellers rights and for the homeless in a protest at Parliament as the Localism Bill became law.
DCH and Housing Emergency campaigners will work together with others including opponents of new anti-squatting laws, to oppose attacks on tenancies, rents and benefits and demand more council and other homes for rent.

15 Nov 2011

Campaign newspaper

Bulk order copies of the new DCH national newspaper (Sept 2011) - includes how to defend secure tenancies; Reform of Council Housing finance; Case against transfer; update on ALMOs; Housing Emergency campaign.
Download for more.

22 Sep 2011

Hands off our homes, our benefits and our rights

Hundreds of tenants, councillors and other supporters lobbied their MPs and attended a mass rally at Westminster in defence of council housing. The lobby and rally was organised by Housing Emergency, a coalition of organisations who oppose the government's plans to introduce fixed-term tenancies and cut housing benefit.

15 Feb 2011

Cardboard City protest at Downing St

MPs joined angry tenants, unions, disabled campaigners in a 150-strong protest to the Prime Minister. They built a cardboard city and shouted demands for 'more council housing' instead of attacks on tenancies rents and benefits. The protest was organised by DCH and others as Housing Emergency.
Download for more.

15 Dec 2010

Lobby Councils on Secure Tenancies and Rents

Get your council to join those who have already pledged not to use new powers to create short-term tenancies, and to oppose up to 80% market rents and benefit cuts, by adopting this Housing Emergency statement.
Download for more.

19 Oct 2010

HOUSING EMERGENCY is bringing together organisations and individuals to oppose attacks on Housing Benefit, rents and secure tenancies, and for investment in new and improved council and affordable secure rented homes.

Supporters include:
House of Commons Council Housing Group, Defend Council Housing, TUC, trade unions Unite, PCS, GMB, UNISON, UCATT, PCS, South East Region TUC, Barking & Dagenham Council, Islington Council, Leeds Tenants Federation, Tower Hamlets Tenants Federation, Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations; London Coalition Against Poverty, Right to Work Campaign, Labour Representation Committee, Disabled People Against Cuts, National Tenants Council members

Press Articles

Royal Borough of Kensington to reintroduce lifetime tenancies

24Housing

03/03/20

9 in 10 social housing tenants say they are portrayed negatively by media

24dash.co.uk

28/02/18

Council proposes £1,000 fines for homeless sleeping in tents

Guardian

24/11/17

U-turn on housing benefit cap for mentally ill and elderly

Observer