Homeless sanctuary Evicted to make way for Luxury Homes

   Bailiffs and police evicted ‘Occupy Bournemouth’ squatters’ camp. People living there set off flares and threw paint before their tents are removed
  • Around 30 people have been living at Occupy Bournemouth’s ‘Homeless Sanctuary’ since start of December
  • Group moved in and barricaded themselves on private land of speculators intended to become new luxury accommodation blocks
  • But Bournemouth Council ordered an eviction notice for squatting and now bailiffs are clearing the camp
  • Protesters threw coloured dye and paint at eviction officers while there were heated scenes with police

Clashes have broken out as bailiffs and police tried evicted a homeless squatters’ camp in Bournemouth.   

Protesters set off flares and launched paint and dye at eviction thugs as authorities cut their way onto the disused site.

As many as 30 people have been living on the closed off piece of land in the seaside town since before Christmas.

They are understood to be a mixture of homeless people and campaigners from the group Occupy Bournemouth, who were evicted after taking over the town hall in 2012.

This camp consisted of around 20 tents, had its own kitchen, a constant campfire and a medical tent. In the days leading up until Christmas, it even had a seven-foot tall tree complete with lights and decorations.  Continue reading “Homeless sanctuary Evicted to make way for Luxury Homes”

Mass Irish Support for the Occupation of Apollo house

A high court judge yesterday granted an injunction that directs the Home Sweet Home occupiers of Apollo House to vacate the building by noon on January 11th. This means that the occupiers will remain in the building until after Christmas which is some good news but it still means that the State is quite willing to forcibly eject people from safe accommodation back out onto freezing streets or into unsafe, sub standard accommodation. Continue reading “Mass Irish Support for the Occupation of Apollo house”

Bank of England ‘Love-Occupiers’ still Resisting

latest.. Finally evicted May 15th

Protestors remain inside former Bank of England building in Liverpool city centre as  Court Deadline passes
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Activistslove”3rd Demand… We demand all of the homeless we have been supporting, helping to provide a sense of worth and belonging are re-housed immediately.”
Love Activists   1st  May, dawn.. update  ”..Occupied bank urgent update: Section 35 of the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 been used tonight. People have been arrested unnecessarily/illegally. Read up! Trust me, I have been served before as have many others; it only disperses you from specified area for limited time. No need for arrests. Do not be afraid; read up on your rights, if you get served move on & stay away til given time. The Act was designed to stop protest. Time to stop picnicking; resist, resist, resist, defend the occupiers. Knowledge is power. Will be down asap…”
The former Bank of England building in Liverpool city centre is Mayday morning still under occupation.
Protestors known as the Love Activists were handed a court order on Tuesday requiring them to leave within 24 hours – but they resisted eviction and remain in the building.
The activists have been using the site as a homeless shelter with anti-establishment banners have been hung from its exterior.

The demonstrators yesterday issued 10 demands, including an urgent meeting with Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and an end to austerity.
Their statement said: “We intend to use this building for the community to inspire a feeling of community, which is lacking.
“We do this in direct response to a local council and government who are lacking in their efforts to help those in need and, in fact, the local council and government seem intent on making matters worse for the people by putting more and more austerity measures in place.”
The activists first moved into the building on April 18.

Police gather outside the former bank on Castle street occupied by Love Activists

Police returned to the occupied former Bank of England building Thursday hours after Love Activists resisted eviction.

Just before 8pm a police van turned up at the rear of the building and officers took up positions around all sides of the building.

The police helicopter hovered overhead for a while as a number of activists appeared on the roof while others were on the balcony and around 20 stood in front of the doors to the building.

Earlier bailiffs arrived at the door of the listed building which has been occupied since April 18 by protesters who have turned it into an illegal homeless shelter.

They were accompanied by several police officers at about 2.50pm and knocked on the door twice before retreating.homes before banksProtesters had been waiting for the bailiffs to turn up from noon after they were served an Interim Possession Order.

There were dramatic scenes as activists used red and green smoke cannisters in their protest.

A supporter of the campaign, Rebecca Cutts, said: “The support for this has been absolutely amazing. People have been given new clothing, there have been 50 here who have been sheltered. This bank has been empty for for the last three-and-a-half years. People who have been sitting in there will be back on the streets.”

A homeless man said: “I feel we were treated unjustly in court. We were denied a hearing. I’m in a brand new set of clothes, I’ve been getting three meals a day. I’m healthier, I feel better in myself since being here.people before banks

“The issue is there’s not adequate things that can replace this place. These people genuinely care. They haven’t done it for monetary gain- they don’t care about money.

“It should be celebrated. It shouldn’t be demonized. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

From the balcony, another homeless man shouted: “Where are you Joe Anderson? I’d love to swap lives with you.”

One spectactor told the ECHO: ““They had good intentions for a worthy cause. But the use of anarchy has tarnished that cause.”

Earlier the activists called for a meeting with Mayor Joe Anderson by the end of the week as part of a list od demands that included Merseyside Labour councils and Joe Anderson rejecting cuts and austerity measures.JS61549002The Mayor’s office did not comment on the list of demands but a council spokesman said: “We commission the Whitechapel Centre to offer support for rough sleepers in Liverpool, and they have been visiting the building over the last few days to identify any support that people who are there may need.“Outreach workers are on the streets every night identifying vulnerable people, getting them into services and helping turn their lives around. People who are sleeping rough and need support can visit the Whitechapel Centre on Langsdale Street, and anyone who sees someone sleeping rough should contact the No Second Night Out hotline on 0300 123 2041.”The bank building has been occupied since April 18, and activists appeared at Liverpool Civil Court yesterday where they were served an Interim Possession Order, which means the property must be vacated within 24 hours or the police can make them leave.

Liverpool (UK): Occupiers of Bank of England building turned homeless shelter make demands

We make this document a Statement of Intent regarding the old Bank of England building on Castle Street, Liverpool. The intentions are as follows to feed, cloth and help all those who seek it and for the local community to help resource this project.
We intend to use this building for the community, to inspire a feeling of community, which is lacking.JS61784371We do this in direct response to a local council and government who are lacking in their efforts to help those in need and in fact, the local Council and government seem intent on making matters worse for the people by putting more and more austerity measures in place.
Juliet Edgar from a Facebook group 'ReClaim' delivers a powerful speech to the crowd gathered below explaining why they occupied the former Bank of England building on behalf of the homeless and why they are defying an eviction order.
Juliet Edgar from a Facebook group ‘ReClaim’ delivers a powerful speech to the crowd gathered below explaining why they occupied the former Bank of England building on behalf of the homeless and why they are defying an eviction order.
We wish by the direct action of occupying an empty unused building and using said building to provide certain needs for the street people or for that matter anyone else who needs to use what is provided by donations, which come from the local community.
We intend to live in peace and harmony with our local community and will resolve any issues which are brought to our attention.
@Love Activists (Liverpool) former Bank of England.
@Love Activists (Liverpool) former Bank of England.
Our demands are as follows:
1. We demand Mayor Joe Anderson meets with us before the end of this week
2. We demand the Merseyside Labour councils and Joe Anderson Mayor rejects the cuts and says no to austerity and no to the cuts. We are suffering ‘Enuf is Enuf’ – we and they need sanctuary.
3. We demand all of the homeless we have been supporting, helping to provide a sense of worth and belonging are re-housed immediately.
4. We demand Social Services and Mental Health Services undertake rapid assessments of those we are supporting, they are very vulnerable.tumblr_nn61aeDTrN1swxl49o1_1280
5. We have learned the drug and alcohol rehabilitation services are underfunded and unsupported, with long waiting lists, cuts to funding. These services must be well resourced and protected. We say no to privatisation.
6. The voices of the homeless must be heard and their requests must be actioned and they must be treated as equals.
7. We have also learned that the Homeless Provision in Merseyside is at breaking point, we have been working with the Whitechapel Centre in particular and will continue with that positive relationship.
8. We demand that the first step to recovery for those with addition issues is a roof over their heads, this is a priority over their recovery.
9. We would also like to thank the community and businesses of Liverpool and further afield for their generous support in solidarity of our direct action to occupy the Bank of England – we have only got this far with that support.
10. We continue to peacefully resist our removal from the Occupied Bank until our demands are met in full.
In peace and solidarity @Love Activists (Liverpool)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-ActivistsJS61707687

 

 

Aylesbury Occupations: 12 story block seized for homeless

12 story block occupied

 Aylesbury estate: 12 storey building occupied after yesterday’s demo

stop demolitionYesterday (14 March) there was a “March for the Aylesbury” demo, called by “Southwark Defend Council Housing”. At 12 noon on a cold grey day, 150 plus people gathered in Burgess Park on the corner of Old Kent Road and Albany Road. We took the road and marched off through the Aylesbury, past the new yuppy developments springing up around the area, then along the busy Walworth road where there were lots of people out doing their shopping, taking leaflets, shouting greetings and honking horns and some joining in the march.

Continue reading “Aylesbury Occupations: 12 story block seized for homeless”

Madrid Assembly liberating Building for 11 evicted Homeless Families

The OS Madrid with hundreds of people are just  liberating a building in Malasaña (live commentary)

by Kaos.   (note. the organised squatters seizing bank property for homeless are now called ‘Obra Social’..Social Work )

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Hundreds of people ”regain” a building in central Madrid . The best gift of kings day (6th Jan), we want  no people without homes or homes without people. Epiphany Today, 11 families have recovered a building # CaixaBank. .    HT:    Riot police are stationed outside. While there was an agreement not to evict immediately, logically there is distrust. Everyone waiting for it to happen.

Comrades report that they have reached an agreement with the police: If the traffic is let move in the street they will not intervene because the evictio isn’t  their department. We begin to clear the road so they vehicles and people csn move past. The information provided is ratified: : They agree to move the riot òlice if we clear the road.. Yes We Can Win!

 There are still two riot police lorries on the corner. The people keep blocking the door

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We’re preparing to read tha Communique from ‘Social Work’.. . Building recovered!

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Social Work clmmunique from Madrid on the new building occupied in Malasaña

..”We are a large family of people of all ages and backgrounds who have lawfully squatted for housing and emergency housing insecurity. We are in untenable situations because local, regional and national governments are daily committing High Treason against the People:

They lie and manipulate both the information and the public media for partisan propaganda, Congress has been converted into a media circus unworthy of a country and dictate laws destroying decent jobs, allowing 25% of children to go hungry in Spain , destroying the public health and education, ruining dependeny people, youth and pensioners, cancelling social services and access to justice, and selling off the evicted houses and all public infrastructure that we have already paid. for  Shaming us citizens internationally with their misrule.

Corrupt governments, which only act to favor their caste, the economic elite, have concealed and falsified the bank bailout, robbing the country and loading giant debt. Now they repeat the move through SAREB, ( note: a special bank which was set up to hold and sell off the hundreds of thousands of evicted homes, etc) which promotes the re-re-sale of property agreed with banks and real estate prices to their benefit and to the detriment of the people who can not and should not continue to pay. The performance of governments in Spain is a sadistic regression to feudalism, plus an ignorant and incompetent myopia, repeating the most obscene  capitalist method of creating inequality and precariousness, causing permanent damage to persons.

We, who have had our present and future stolen by these governments and have been excluded and thrown in nthe rubbish by them , we act responsibly and legitimately to cover the basic necessities of life that they systematically deny us. These governments only serve to enrich themselves in their predatory, aberrant, inhuman and criminal plutocracy.

For these reasons, we have no other choice but to take the basic rights that have stolen from millions of people in this country, to create a decent life in a decent home, according to the Constitution of 78 which guarantees thias and is still in force. Hundreds of thousands of others, pushed to the limit by this scam, will follow in our footsteps to recover what is rightfully theirs.

We are here to create a responsible community that improves the condition of the building and enriches the social life of the neighborhood. Malasaña, a neighborhood with a long local history, is being subjected, like many others, to processes of real estate speculation and gentrification, dynamics that destroy the social fabric by displacingb the original inhabitants. We do not want a neighborhood where the City Council controls commerce and offers subsidies and licenses to create spaces crowded areas of consumption and alienated leisure consumtion. By liberating this building we wish to regain community spirit, neighborhood solidarity, and mutual support so we can know and recognize each other in the streets.

This building is owned by CaixaBank. It has been empty from 2009 until today. The only slight use was from November 2011 until February 2012, however, the Caixa and the Judge decided that private property was above the right to housing. Today things have changed, we now know that YES YOU CAN WIN, so today we challenge back the Caixa: Do you want to continue being known as the Bad Bank? We only want one thing, housing.

All this shows once again that private property excludes the majority of people from access to goods that actually belong to the commons and leaves many abandoned and disabled to sleep in the street. We demand that there be no more houses without people or homeless without houses. We’re going to pamper our new home, we’re going to rehabilitate and repair it to make it warm and decent housing.

Statewide, it is the 15th block liberated by the ‘Social Work’ squat campaign. The housing work groups of the assemblies of districts of Madrid , inspired and encouraged by the 15m Movement, as well as other groups struggling for decent housing, have been developiung a self-managed, assembly-based, horizontal response to the housing emergency caused by the banks with the complicity of the administration. On behalf o the Social Work f Ther Housing Assembly we hereby liberate this block of empty homes owned by  CaixaBank in Malasaña, Madrid, and today we make that public.

This afternoon we will contact the Caixa through its managing company DiagonalGest to give us a solution in the form of Social Rent. If by Tuesday we have not been answered, we will have to stay here until we get a solution.

There will be many more homes legitimately occupied by assemblies because “Yes He Can WIN” and “Yes WE SHOULD”

http://madrid.tomalosbarrios.net/5285183/comunicado-de-obra-social-madrid-sobre-el-nuevo-edificio-ocupado-en-malasana/

*******************

La O.S. Madrid con cientos de personas acaban de rescatar un edificio en Malasaña (en directo)

por Kaos. Vivienda y Ocupación

Domingo, 05 de Enero de 2014 1  Video
 @ObraSocialMad

Cientos de personas recuperan un edificio en pleno centro de Madrid. El mejor regalo de reyes; que no haya gente sin casas ni casas sin gente. Hoy día de reyes,11 familias han recuperado un edificio de #CaixaBank. Obra Social Madrid difunde comunicado.

HT:

  @ObraSocialMad

Los antidisturbios siguen allí apostados. Si bien hubo un acuerdo hay una lógica desconfianza. Todo el mundo a la espera de lo que suceda.

Compañerxs informan que se ha llegado a un acuerdo con la policía: Si se libera la calle estos no intervendrán porque la ocupación no es de su competencia.  Se procede a liberar la calzada para que puedan circular los vehículos y las personas. Se ratifica la información proporcionada: : Se llega a un acuerdo con la UIP, en el momento que dejemos la calle libre ellos se van. ¡Sí se puede!

 

Ya hay dos lecheras y efectivos con casco. La gente se agarra en la puerta

Leyendo comunicado en Corredera baja 33 . Edificio recuperado!

Comunicado de Obra Social Madrid sobre el nuevo edificio ocupado en Malasaña

Somos una gran familia compuesta por personas de todas las edades y condición que legítimamente hemos okupado una vivienda por emergencia habitacional y precariedad. Estamos en situaciones insostenibles porque los gobiernos locales, regionales y nacional cometen a diario Alta Traición al Pueblo:

Mienten y manipulan tanto la información como los medios de comunicación públicos para propaganda partidista, convierten el Congreso en un circo mediático indigno de un país, dictan leyes que destruyen el empleo digno, permiten que el 25% de las niñas y niños en España pasen hambre, destrozan la sanidad y la educación públicas, arruinan a dependientes, jóvenes y pensionistas, anulan los servicios sociales y el acceso a la justicia, y venden la vivienda y toda la infraestructura pública que ya hemos pagado. Avergüenzan a la ciudadanía a nivel internacional con su desgobierno.

Los gobiernos corruptos, que sólo actúan para favorecer a su casta, a la élite económica, han ocultado y falseado el rescate a la banca, endeudando y robando al país. Ahora repiten la jugada por medio del Sareb, que promueve la re-re-venta de vivienda a precios pactados con bancos e inmobiliarias en su beneficio y en detrimento del pueblo que no lo puede ni debe pagar. La actuación de los gobiernos en España es una regresión al feudalismo sádico, además de una miopía ignorante e incompetente, repitiendo el método capitalista de crear las desigualdades y precariedades más obscenas, que causa daños permanentes a las personas.

Nosotras, a quienes estos gobiernos han robado el presente y el futuro, excluidas y desechadas por ellos a nuestra suerte, actuamos responsable y legítimamente para cubrir las necesidades básicas de la vida que nos niegan sistemáticamente. Estos gobiernos sólo sirven al enriquecimiento propio y al de una plutocracia inhumana, depredadora, aberrante y criminal.

Por estos motivos, no nos queda otro remedio que tomar los derechos básicos que nos han robado a millones de personas en este país, para crear una vida digna en una vivienda digna, según debería garantizar la Constitución del 78 todavía en vigor. Cientos de miles de personas más, empujadas al límite por esta estafa, seguirán nuestros pasos para recuperar lo que les pertenece.

Estamos aquí para crear una comunidad responsable que mejore la condición del edificio y enriquezca la vida social del barrio. Malasaña, un barrio con una larga historia vecinal, se está viendo sometido, como muchos otros, a procesos de especulación inmobiliaria y dinámicas de gentrificación que destruyen su tejido social desplazando a quienes lo han habitado. No queremos un barrio en el que el Ayuntamiento controla el comercio y ofrece subvenciones y licencias para crear zonas atestadas de espacios de consumo y de ocio alienador. Liberando este edificio queremos recuperar el espíritu comunitario, la solidaridad vecinal, el apoyo mutuo y poder así conocernos y reconocernos en las calles.

Este edificio es propiedad de CaixaBank. Está vacío desde 2009 hasta la actualidad. Los únicos meses que albergó vida fueron desde noviembre de 2011 hasta febrero de 2012, sin embargo, la Caixa y el Juez decidieron que la propiedad privada estaba por encima del derecho a la vivienda. Hoy las cosas han cambiado, por que hoy sabemos que SÍ SE PUEDE, así que hoy retamos de nuevo a la Caixa : ¿Quieres seguir siendo el Banco Malo? Nosotras, sólo queremos una cosa, vivienda.

Todo esto que demuestra una vez más que la propiedad privada excluye a la mayoría de personas al acceso a bienes que en realidad pertenecen al procomún y lo deja abandonado e inhabilitado mientras muchas dormimos en la calle. Exigimos que no haya más casas sin gente ni más gente sin casa. Mimaremos nuestro nuevo hogar, lo rehabilitaremos y repararemos para hacer de él una vivienda digna y cálida.

A nivel estatal, éste es el 15º bloque liberado por la campaña de recuperación de bloques de la Obra Social. Los grupos de trabajo de vivienda de las asambleas de los barrios de Madrid, surgidos y potenciados a raíz del 15M, así como los diferentes espacios de lucha por una vivienda digna, llevamos tiempo dando una respuesta autogestionada, asamblearia y horizontal a la emergencia habitacional que provocan las entidades financieras con la complicidad de la Administración. Desde la Obra social de la Asamblea de Vivienda Centro liberamos este bloque de viviendas vacías propiedad última de CaixaBank en el barrio de Malasaña, Madrid y, hoy lo hacemos publico.

Esta misma tarde nos comunicaremos con la Caixa a través de su gestoría DiagonalGest para que nos de una solución en forma de Alquiler Social. Si el martes no hemos obtenido respuesta, nos veremos obligados a permanecer aquí hasta que se nos de una solución.

Habrá muchas más okupaciones legítimas por asambleas de vivienda porque “Sí Se Puede” y “Sí Se Debe”

http://madrid.tomalosbarrios.net/5285183/comunicado-de-obra-social-madrid-sobre-el-nuevo-edificio-ocupado-en-malasana/

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Resisting Mass Evictions Law in Britain.. Squat the Rich!

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Organising opposition to new anti-squat law

The date the new anti-squatting law comes into force in English and Welsh law has been set for September 1st. The Advisory Service for Squatters (ASS) have issued a warning and a call to arms: “We are going to need to be more organised and look after each other better. We will need legal back-up available on the street, and people will need help moving quickly and storing their possessions. We need networks, linked up with others resisting evictions and attacks on housing rights.

The Eviction Resistance Network (ER) have emerged to counter to the new law and new enforcement techniques. They have already mobilised big numbers to resist several evictions, and their phoneline is open 24/7. Continue reading “Resisting Mass Evictions Law in Britain.. Squat the Rich!”

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