housing
Content about housing, housing policy and struggles over housing and accommodation.
1915: The Glasgow rent strike
The history of a months-long rent strike of 30,000 Glasgow residents against profiteering landlords, forcing the government to freeze rents for the duration of World War I.
During the First World War, rent increases across Glasgow provoked massive working class opposition, mainly from women organised in tenants’ groups. Their struggle against profiteering landlords during extremely difficult circumstances is a valuable example of how collective action really gets results.
The Occupation of Art and Gentrification
How an artistic presence was used to aid the gentrification of 1980s New York City.
An article from "No Reservations
- Housing, Space and Class Struggle"; News From Everywhere
and Campaign For Real Life, London, 1989.
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THE OCCUPATION
New North Glasgow Residents' Association
Following two meetings of residents of the areas, a new association of residents has started in Possilpark in Glasgow.
Hamiltonhill Residents' Association has come together due to the often overwhelming problems experienced by the local community. Repairs to walls and piping, heroin addicts and the closure of three schools on the estate, are hot topics. More concrete arrangements for campaigning are beginning to form also.
Locked out of Acton's Lock
Residents of the Whiston and Goldsmiths' estates - and especially those in Debdale Court - are less than impressed with Hackney Council and British Waterways over the proposed development at Acton's Lock.
Squeezed between Debdale Court and the Regents Canal at the Eastern End of Whiston Road, the five-story building will comprise 25 flats and a restaurant.
Osaka homeless evictions meet resistance
A tent village in Utsubo park, Osaka was evicted this month to make way for an international rose festival.
The following report is from libcom.org forum posters who participated in defending against the eviction:
We are some disobedients who participated in the defense of the autonomous community at Utsubo park.
Ontario housing tribunal occupied
Early on Friday, members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, and many people facing cuts to their welfare and ODSP cheques due to the slashed "Special Diet Allowance" occupied and shut down the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal at 47 Sheppard Ave. E. in Toronto.
The Tribunal was closed for the day as result of this action.
California: Mobile home residents on rent strike against hikes
Residents in Ceres, California launched their strike when Equity LifeStyles Properties increased rents by $85 a month.
Mobile home dwellers own their houses, but rent the land on which they are situated.
Residents first appealed to the city council to apply rent controls to the land - one of nearly 300 mobile home plots owned by ELSP - but they declined, leaving them no option but to take direct action.
Edinburgh council tenants fighting privatisation speak
Council tenants from Edinburgh speak about their recent victory against the sell-off of council housing, and the fight for more investment they still face.
Tenants, trade unionists and councillors from around the country were set to attend a mass lobby of parliament on Wednesday of this week to protest against the government’s policy of handing council homes to private companies.
The lobby was called by Defend Council Housing (DCH), a national coalition of housing campaigns.
Japan: Osaka's homeless resist evictions
The Osaka Municipal Government is today removing homeless communities from two of its parks in preparation for the World Rose Convention.
Around a third of Japan's 25000 homeless are based in Osaka, and these evictions are meeting mass resistance.
Take over the city - Community struggle in Italy, 1973
Excellent article from Lotta Continua about different struggles of workers in their local areas. It covers self-reduction of prices, squatting and more.
Translated and edited by Ernest Dowson
Radical America, Vol.7 no.2, March-April 1973
Translator's Preface
