Inside Manchester Central, or G-Mex as it's still known, the last three days has seen an array of speakers and a broad range of `experts' giving their views on the state of Britain's housing during the three day Chartered Institute of Housing 2015 Conference.
These have ranged from Duncan Weldon, Economics Correspondent for Newsnight, to Ed Cox, Director of IPPR North, to Alex Hilton, director of Generation Rent, to broadcaster Cathy Newman...and today, Tory Housing Minister Brendan Lewis. But it was outside the centre that the real stories were being told and the real anger was being articulated...
"For almost the past three years I've been on three month job contracts, then three months at the job centre, then three month job contracts, with benefit payments held up in between" explained Daniel from Rochdale "I'm personally affected by the Bedroom Tax because I live on my own in a two bedroom flat, and there's no one bedroom properties to move into; so it's a total Catch 22 situation.
"We need affordable housing, housing that suits people's needs" he added "There are houses being built in Rochdale but they're all two and three bedrooms. I don't see why I should be put in this situation just because I live on my own. It affects almost everyone I know."
As the PCS trade union drumming band dinned up the atmosphere, Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch leaflets were handed to delegates, decrying the planned sell-off of social housing, the continuing struggle of the Bedroom Tax and urging support for Manchester's Homeless Camp.
"I'm here giving support because people are losing their houses and becoming homeless because of the Bedroom Tax" said Wesley from the Camp "I've come to see if the Housing Minister has anything to say..."
Roger, who had come from Calderdale, summed up the perfect housing poverty storm that's mostly arrived...
"I've come to have my voice heard in disgust at the actions of this Government in imposing the Bedroom Tax on the poorest and weakest in society and benefit sanctions that are crippling the poor" he said "We have people without two pennies to rub together who depend on benefits, yet if they miss an appointment haven't even been told they can have their benefits cuts for 14 weeks...
"I'm here because there's a housing minister coming and he's going to tell these nice people in there that he's doing a great job and making a fair and equal society" he scoffed "What was it this morning? Re-defining poverty? He's not going to get the friendliest reception in the conference because housing associations are also being told to sell off their stock; so the disaster we had with Right to Buy sales on local authority stock over the past few decades, introduced by Thatcher, is going to be repeated in spades by Cameron and the housing associations.
"So that's why I'm here, because the voice of the people has to be heard with regard to housing issues, whether impoverishing the weakest or setting up social housing stock to be sold to their rich friends in the city at a cut down price" he added "I mean, fuck the bastards...."
See also previous Salford Star article: Salford Sleeps Rough – click here
Photos by Steven Speed
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