Extend the Covid-19 eviction ban!

Doug Thorpe writes: The moratorium on housing evictions is due to end on 23 August and courts are gearing up to start processing eviction applications again from 24th.

The ban on evictions is not a solution in itself. Unless it is combined with a write-off of arrears that have accrued during the pandemic, it will leave renters caught up in the Covid-crisis in debt and poverty. In the longer run there is a much deeper discussion to be had about fixing our broken housing system. We need to build and refurbish Council homes and cap private rents.

But unless the current ban on evictions is extended (as the Scottish Government has done until March 2021) there will be a flood of evictions and increase in homelessness, debt and poverty while the pandemic is still here. Creating housing insecurity will also exacerbate the health crisis when there is a spike in infections this coming winter.

A number of housing campaigns are calling for demonstrations this weekend:

  • Saturday 22nd August – ACORN in 10-15 different cities – contact your local Acorn group or click here 
  • Sunday 23rd August – SHAC – Outside Royal Courts of Justice Thomas More Building, The Strand, WC2A 2LL. 12.30pm – 1.30pm. SHAC details here
  • Monday 24th August – Radical Housing Network – Outside Royal Courts of Justice Thomas More Building, The Strand, London WC2A 2LL. 9.30am – 10.30am. RHN details here
  • Monday 24th August – London Renters Union  – Various locations around London. More details here 

These organisations are working together and supporting each other’s actions, but are arranging a series of protests rather than a single demonstration as there are different views about the priorities of protesting before the ban ends, or being there when courts start to function again, a central protest, and decentralised local protests so there will be a weekend of activity across many areas this coming weekend.

Left Unity supports all the demonstrations and calls for an extension of the eviction ban for at least a year along with other methods to prevent poverty arising out of the pandemic, including a write-off of arrears of rent accrued during the Covid-19 crisis.

Left Unity’s wider housing policy can be found here  This was adopted six years ago. Much of it has stood the test of time, however we are currently in a process of discussing updates to the policy to be discussed at our conference later this year. Why not join us and get involved?

#No Evictions #ExtendTheEvictionBan

 

 



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