Since November, up to two dozen people have been occupying a disused doctor's surgery in Eccles, keeping them off the streets during the freezing nights. In January, almost straight after the 'season of goodwill', NHS Property Services, which owns the building, served a possession order but the case was adjourned from Manchester Civil Justice Centre on January 9th in order for the Eccles Saving People Shelter to prepare a legal case.*
Today, that case was heard and the judge ruled in favour of NHS Property Services, giving the Shelter five days to vacate the 'trespassed' building. Now, around 15 people face an uncertain future...
"Most of the homeless people from the shelter may be put in the A Bed Every Night scheme but we are concerned that at the end of March when the scheme ends the people with complex needs could be put back on the streets" says Angela Barratt of Salford Street Support
"All we wanted was more time to help the people in there and make sure they got adequate support and accommodation" she adds "We're just grassroots peole helping people get their human rights and we're really upset and emotional; this is so sad."
An appeal against the decision is due to be lodged tomorrow... "We're staying positive and we're going to try and buy more time to get people adequate support" says Jannah Speat, from the Shelter.
The eviction decision came as the Green Party was imploring the Government and local councils to open up empty buildings for the homeless..
"It is shameful that in a nation as rich as the UK thousands are still facing freezing temperatures on the streets" said Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party "With the right political will there is action we can take right now to give people shelter, and I urge the Government and local authorities to consider measures like opening up Britain's many empty buildings.
"In the longer term we need to see an end to policies like Universal Credit and benefit sanctions which push people into poverty, and real commitment to policies which help deal with the causes of homelessness so no one is forced to sleep rough in the first place" she added.
Update: 1st February 2019
"We're going nowhere" says Shelter residents - click here
*For a full background see previous Salford Star articles...
Extension for Eccles Homeless Shelter – click here
Eccles homeless Shelter Possession Case Adjourned – click here
NHS Property Serves Court Order To Evict Homeless Shelter – click here
Eccles Homeless Shelter Saving Lives as NHS Wants to Evict – click here
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