First it was the `ethical' Co-op that evicted around thirty young homeless people from its empty Ducie Bridge pub and then sent heavy handed security teams to evict them from a grass verge (see here and see here)... Now it is the local councils who `manage' the Greater Manchester Pension Fund that are throwing these homeless people back onto the winter streets of Manchester.
After being evicted from the pub and the grass verge, the homeless people took refuge in the empty former Pizza Express building, Old Colony House off King Street. Their number included a pregnant girl and two people with autism, yet the Pension Fund, via Tameside Council, won a court order last week to take possession of the property – on the same day that Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett branded Greater Manchester's homeless crisis "an absolute disgrace" and asked "Why is this happening in today's society?"
While Dennett is no longer on the management panel of the Pension Fund, Salford City Council does have a representative, and none of the twenty councillors from the region's mainly Labour Party held local authorities have spoken out in public to try and stop the eviction of these people which is set for tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd November at 8am.
The warrant ordering them to leave states "It is not sufficient to say that you have not been able to find somewhere else to live" as grounds to appeal the court decision.
The homeless people have issued a statement saying that "We will not go quietly", while Danny Jones of the Manchester Activist Network slated the hypocrisy of local politicians...
"Our local councils attempt to escape criticism of our current homeless crisis by placing the blame at Westminster" he told the Salford Star "However we have seen these councils take decisions purely of their own accord, to attempt to sweep this homeless crisis under the carpet...from evictions to city-wide injunctions.
"The latest eviction attempt at Old Colony House proves this point" he added "This building is owned by the local authorities; they have the power to find alternative, lasting solutions. Yet they refuse...Why?"
During the eviction by the Co-op last month, the homeless people tried to get their message out to pedestrians and motorists by chalking messages on the pavement outside New Century House...
"All we do is turn abandoned and wasted buildings into homes"
"If you don't house us we will house ourselves"
And most poignant... "Where is the love?"
The homeless people are asking people to show their support outside the old Pizza Express building 6 South King Street, M2 6DQ tomorrow, Wednesday 27th November, from 8am.
For full background see previous Salford Star article – click here
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