The activists believe that Eric Pickles as Secretary of State is failing to seriously tackle homelessness and that in particular three policies that he has promoted will only worsen this grave issue.

1. Riot Evictions as collective punishment
   Eric Pickles has personally endorsed evicting entire families if a member is found to be a “looter”. Wandsworth Council had served an eviction notice to Maite de la Calva though her 18 year son had only been arrested with riot related charges. The mother who took no part in the London riots has accused the Local Authority for behaving like “fascists”.
2. Unreasonable treatment of Traveller communities
   Basildon Council has received £1.2 million from DCLG to finance the eviction of approximately 400 people from Dale Farm in Crays Hill, Essex. Despite calls from the UN to suspend the eviction at Dale Farm, and offers of mediation from local Bishops, Basildon Council seem determined to make over 100 children homeless and severely disrupt their education. A total of £18 million is being spent by the local authority and the Government to finance the eviction of the 500 people at Dale Farm, the largest Traveller site in the country.
3. Radical social housing reforms in the Localism Bill
   Local authorities will no longer be obliged to offer subsidised social housing to those on waiting lists and the abolishment of the right to a council house for life. The controversial Localism Bill has been criticised by a number of housing experts as creating “a revolving door of poverty”. It has also been criticised by both Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers for the pace at which it is being rushed through parliament.

Politically motivated evictions by local authorities represent a disturbingly crude form of extra-judicial punishment.

Eviction will have a disastrous impact on family members, including young children, against whom there are no allegations of wrongdoing.

Despite attempts by certain elements to distract from this, the rioting had clear roots in poverty and exclusion – and homelessness will only foment and exacerbate these problems.

It is spiteful, and demonstrates a startling lack of maturity on the part of the Council and central government.

Rather than attempting to spread fear or further ostracise, we should be spending our time considering practical ways in which we can ensure that everyone has a stake in their communities.

We pledge to do all that we can to stop these evictions taking place.

Signed

Housing Solidarity

John Rees

Counterfire

Sophie Khan, Solicitor-Advocate and activist

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