Back at the end of January, NHS Property Services won a possession order to evict around 15 homeless people who had taken refuge at the old doctor's surgery on Church Street in Eccles.
On 1st February, Judge Bird stopped the eviction by ordering a 'stay' (of execution) until the merits of an appeal had been decided (see here). Now, a full day appeal date has been set for 23rd April, meaning the 'illegal' shelter will have been open for five months, achieving its ambition of keeping homeless people safe and warm over the winter. During the 'stay', the residents are there legally.
Indeed, the shelter will now have stayed open longer than GM Mayor Andy Burnham's 'a bed every night scheme' which is due to finish at the end of March. Indeed, an open letter to Burnham from the Shelter supporters noted the gaps and failings of the Mayor's project (see here).
"We have hit four months and we have been on site daily with the help from volunteers" says Angela Barratt of Salford Street Support, which has been helping the residents since day one "Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre, Achieve and the Salford public have been so kind and supportive, while residents have been supporting each other and have been amazing.
"This building is called a 'shelter' not a 'squat' because the residents themselves have been working so hard to better their lives" she adds "Some go to work, others have gone, and are going on, training. We have helped people get into accommodation and jobs. These people deserve a home and we hope that the building will be able to stay open to help people who fall through the gaps of society."
All the residents are now signing on and receiving state benefits, while the support volunteers are liaising with the drug and alcohol team, Achieve, and every resident has signed up to the Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre (SUCRC) medical and dental surgery. All residents will now be offered training and CVs, via TDB Partnership C.I.C, and five former Shelter residents are now also in official accommodation.
"The residents occupied 169 Church Street to ensure that they lived through the winter as they were homeless and it now looks as if that major aim will be achieved" says Alec McFadden, SUCRC Centre Manager "Not one of the residents has died because they were warm and safe in the squat...This was always about the right to live and the right to a home, and these basic rights will continue to be fought for..."
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