SHAC was recently invited to collaborate with English for Action (EfA) in their newly established Tower Hamlets Housing Action Group involving migrant women from Bangladesh, Sudan and Iraq. EfA is a London wide charity that connects English language learning with community organising campaigning and migrants rights. The charity invited SHAC to help with a housing action group which combines English learning with other action to improve their conditions.
For SHAC, it was an opportunity to make links with a community facing multiple barriers when trying to get their landlord – Clarion – to carry out basic repairs and create a decent environment on their estate. SHAC’s long-time activist and Clarion tenant Kimi rose to the challenge, Kimi says:
“The women engaged fully with the talk and expressed their dissatisfaction paying rent for services they are not receiving and they too feel ignored by Clarion.”
Kimi also talked about how SHAC members share experiences and support each other, taking action like protesting and using social media to bring attention to our cause.
Kimi with participants in the English for Action workshop. Some images blurred for anonymity.
The group felt inspired when Kimi said that although she couldn’t solve their problems, she could talk about what can be done together, adding “If we have lots of people, they will see us”. Members of the group then described some of the problems they were facing, including a broken boiler, blocked sinks, mould and damp, insect infestations, and windows not closing. As is all too common, they had also experienced a lack of response and long waiting times for repairs after repeatedly calling Clarion about these issues.
Becky Winstanley of EfA explained that the workshop had been very well received, especially because the group could relate directly to Kimi’s own experiences as a Clarion tenant. She added:
“Housing problems are a very live issue because half the group in the Clarion blocks have been without hot water for four weeks. After the session me and Kimi walked around the blocks and spoke to some of the other tenants.”
SHAC has offered support to the Clarion tenants in Tower Hamlets, and further collaborations with EfA are planned for the Autumn.
19 July 2024
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