Support the shelter residents: Join the feeder march to the Salford May Day parade, from the shelter to the official march
Saturday 4th May 11:30am, march from 169 Church Street, Eccles to Bexley Square, Salford
On Tuesday 23rd April, at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, a homeless shelter lost their appeal against the possession order made by Manchester County Court on the 31st January 2019. As a result the shelter, set up by homeless people and local homeless campaigners in an empty doctors surgery in Eccles, now faces eviction on the 7th May 2019.
GMLC have been providing free legal representation for the homeless occupants. On 1st February 2019, GMLC successfully applied for a stay and halted the eviction pending an appeal. On 23rdApril, however, the appeal judge concluded that NHS Property Services that court had been right to make a possession order and that the shelter had no seriously arguable defence to the claim.
She concluded that the NHS Property Services Ltd (who own the property) were entitled to rely on assurances made by Salford Council that suitable alternative accommodation was available for the all of the residents, despite the fact that the availability and suitability of alternative accommodation offers is strongly disputed by the residents and those who have been supporting them.
“We are helping each other to rebuild our lives”
In November 2018, homeless people and volunteers created a hostel, known as The Eccles Saving People Shelter, in a doctor’s surgery that had been vacant for nine years. Local community members and organisations such as the Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre, Salford Street Support and the Salvation Army gave food parcels and daily support.
GMLC housing solicitor Kathleen Cosgrove and Shelter resident Stacie Martindale speaking at the GMLC Manifesto launch
Residents were provided with beds, the flu-jab and support from a substance misuse support organisation who visited the Shelter. Other residents and volunteers assisted others with benefits, registration for doctors and dentists, registering bank accounts, finding employment and securing move-on accommodation. The hostel has liaised with the local council and other agencies, including arranging for a fire safety inspection. Stacie Martindale was a Shelter resident who secured move-on accommodation after staying in the Shelter, and she now volunteers her time to support other residents. Speaking of her time there, she said, “We look after each other. We have massive local support. It’s giving us back our humanity. Between us we are helping each other to rebuild our lives.”
Duty of enquiry
On 23rd April, Manchester Civil Justice Centre the Shelter’s representatives argued that NHS Property Services is a company wholly owned by the Secretary of State, and performing public functions (managing NHS properties) and as such has a duty to consider the consequences of eviction for the residents, particularly those who are particularly those with health problems and disabilities before taking the decision to evict. The NHS Property Services admitted it had never met with the residents or found out about their circumstance, but instead had merely referred the matter to the Council – without considering whether alternative accommodation was in fact available, or whether such accommodation was safe or suitable for the particular resident’s needs.
Despite praising the work of the Shelter residents and the Greater Manchester Law Centre, the judge dismissed the residents appeal, she found that NHS Property Services had done enough, and were entitled to evict the homeless residents in order to continue their plans to sell the property.
Angela Barratt, a volunteer from Salford Street Support who has been supporting the shelter, said: “I feel really sorry for the residents because they’ve been there five months and a lot of them have achieved a lot of things, interacting with services and more. It’s run like a professional shelter because it has support workers, with the residents running the building themselves. I feel that now the building might be left empty again for years. I’m also disappointed that we only got two weeks until the eviction.”
Shelter residents and supporters outside court
Community working
Residents of the Shelter expressed the importance of having a place where they feel safe, and the need for homeless people to have a voice in how they are supported: “We have built a home, a community and we feel safe. We think community working is the way forwards to genuinely help and support homeless people.
“You can’t have a bed before you have safety, and this means mentally feeling safe.”
A spokesperson for GMLC said, “The Eccles Saving People’s Shelter is an example of self-help and solidarity empowering homeless people. Their commitment and common sense are inspiring and it is an honour to work with them. We will continue to support the Shelter, as campaigners and as their legal representatives”.
Support the shelter residents: Join the feeder march to the Salford May Day parade, from the shelter to the official march
Saturday 4th May 11:30am, march from 169 Church Street, Eccles to Bexley Square, Salford
