People’s Agenda profile 22: Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth

‘It is now a luxury to be free to live in London. HASL will not accept this gentrification. Decent homes for all!’

HASL is a voluntary community group who aim to help members deal with all kinds of unfair treatment by Lambeth and Southwark council as well as private landlords. People come to us to share their stories, find answers and support. Our knowledge, connection with other groups and our determination to fight the injustice that people are facing is our strength. HASL aims to let people know that they are not alone. We have occupied the council offices, hold free kitchens and worked in many different ways to support our members through the group.

We believe that everyone has a right to live in affordable accommodation in their community. Social housing is needed but instead social cleansing in takes place in London where families are evicted to make way for developers and high rents. In our boroughs the number of families living in temporary accommodation has hugely increased. Families like mine live in a daily stress knowing that they can be sent everywhere outside their borough in 24 hours. This is destroying a healthy life style that everyone should be able to enjoy. It is now a luxury to be free to live in London. HASL will not accept this gentrification. Decent homes for all!

To find out more: @HousingActionSL 

Red Pepper are running the People’s Agenda series in the run up to the General Election, demonstrating the breadth of exciting grassroots political activity in the UK.