Housing Justice UNLEASH email bulletin November 2007

Hello and welcome to Housing Justice UNLEASH e-news for November.

Two quick headlines: London Councils are consulting on a proposal to restrict the "distribution of free refreshments", effectively to prevent Soup Runs from their activities. The consultation period ends tomorrow Friday 2nd November. Scroll down for more details.

There was a very interesting talk at our Housing Justice AGM from Oliver Marc Hartwich of the award winning think tank Policy Exchange. He offered some refreshing perspectives from Europe on housing supply and affordability. His talk highlighted differences in the planning and local taxation systems which give local authorities a high degree of autonomy and - crucially - incentives to create more housing and good environments so that more people want to live and work there. More details below this excellent cartoon (with thanks to Deborah Littman)

About this Housing Justice UNLEASH news bulletin
This monthly bulletin aims to be a quick but worthwhile read for people working in or concerned about housing and homelessness in London. The readership includes: churches and other faith groups, individuals working in housing or homelessness agencies, people who are or have been homeless, and people with an interest in housing, homelessness and related issues.

It goes out each month to about 1200 people and Housing Justice members are invited to use it to share news or needs. Comments or feedback are always welcome.

Subscribe/unsubscribe Please forward to any colleagues or friends who may be interested. If you receive a copy in this way and would like your own please email me - also to unsubscribe anytime.
a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
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Scroll Down for
Soup Run Ban?
Annual Service of Commemoration Thursday 8 November
London Citizens
Policy Exchange Think Tank
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week training event
End Child Poverty Rally
Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards
Housing Justice UNLEASH volunteers training
Join Housing Justice!

Soup Run Ban?
London Councils are putting forward a proposal to prevent or restrict the "distribution of free refreshments", aimed at preventing soup runs. This proposal is included with a number of less controversial measures in a Private Bill, the contents of which will be finalised at a meeting on the 13th November. The consultation ends tomorrow Friday 2nd November.

This is from the consultation document -
Distribution of free refreshments
Problem Free refreshments and food are regularly distributed on public land, particularly by organisations wishing to assist the homeless. The unfettered distribution of free food and refreshments causes nuisance to occupiers of premises, often residential premises, in the vicinity of such land.

Solution It is proposed to prohibit the distribution of free refreshments on land designated by a London borough council. It would also be an offence to cause another person to distribute such refreshments. To be designated, land would have to be in the open air, and open to public access. Unlawful distribution of free food would be an offence, and would be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (i.e. up to £2500). Exemptions would be included, for example, the distribution of refreshments to people taking part in sporting events or giving out free samples outside retail premises.
Comments are welcome on the proposal to prohibit the distribution of free refreshments in designated areas. Consultees are particularly asked to comment on exemptions.

Comments should be sent to Oliver Hatch, Parliamentary and Public Affairs Officer, London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 OAL or oliver.hatch@londoncouncils.gov.uk

London Councils website - http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=21012&cat=980

BBC report -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/7063914.stm

Annual Service of Commemoration Thursday 8 November
The Service of Commemoration for homeless people who have died is at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on Thursday 8 November at 11.30am.
All are welcome. The service is followed by light refreshments

Invitation to send in names of people you know who have died homeless
A main feature of the service each year is the reading of the names of those who have died, known to the people, agencies, and churches working with homeless and badly housed people. Please send any names of which you are aware to me or Roger Shaljean Roger.Shaljean@cstm.org.uk or phone 020 7766 5555 by 1 November.

London Citizens
I had the privilege last week to take part in the Citizens Organising Foundation/London Citizens leadership training over 5 days. This is the organisation - the best known part is TELCO (The East London Citizens Organisation) - which unites Churches, Mosques and other faith groups, Schools, Colleges, Trade Unions and other community organisations and groups to bring about change. The campaigns are decided upon by the membership, and reflect the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens, including for more affordable housing and the living wage campaigns, as well as Strangers into Citizens.
Links for more info here:
Citizens Organising Foundation - http://www.cof.org.uk/
Industrial Areas Foundation in the US - http://www.industrialareasfoundation.org/

Policy Exchange Think Tank
Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich gave an excellent presentation at the Housing justice AGM on Tuesday . He is Policy Exchange's Chief Economist and is the co-author of Unaffordable Housing: Fables and Myths, Bigger Better Faster More, Better Homes, Greener Cities and The Best Laid Plans.
All these publications can be downloaded or ordered from the Policy Exchange website
http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/Issues/Housing.aspx

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts
27 January to 3 February 2008
Opening Doors, Opening Hearts is about opening hearts to hear the stories people have to tell about being homeless, badly housed, and poor. It offers opportunities for dialogue, springing from the conviction that together we can open doors to a better housed, better paid and more just society.

In 2008 Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday are only one week apart. Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is your chance to make a difference. The Opening Doors, Opening Hearts resource pack contains all the materials that are needed for Homelessness Sunday, for Poverty Action Sunday, and to organise events during the Action Week.
Events Our target is for at least 100 events to take place in communities all over the UK in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week. The resource pack materials will assist you to pray, reflect and act on homelessness and poverty; to encourage your church to get involved; to uncover the reality of hidden poverty or homelessness in your community; to celebrate what is already going on locally; to work with others.
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is organised by Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Church Urban Fund and others.
More information www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk
Order your resource pack from Ellen Byrne
e.byrne@housingjustice.org.uk

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week training event
To help prepare for holding an event in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, this is the final London training day.
Monday 5 Nov 12.30-2.30pm Trinity House, Borough High St. SE1 1HW
Contact Terry Drummond, Southwark Diocese 020 8769 3256
terry.drummond@southwark.anglican.org

End Child Poverty Rally
Save the Children as part of the End Child Poverty Coalition invite you to a rally in London on Wednesday 7 November
Where: The Treasury, London
Time: 10.30am to 11.30am
The Labour Government made a commitment to end child poverty by 2020 but last year child poverty figures rose for the first time since 1997. Our country has one of the worst rates of poverty in Europe with 3.8 million children living in poverty.
We need your help to show Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling that we want to see an end to this national disgrace. As part of the Month of Action for the Campaign to End Child Poverty, which runs from October 17th until November the 20th, Save the Children is organising this rally. Please come and bring family and friends to show support for the Campaign to End Child Poverty. Bring banners, placards and wear a T-shirt from your organisation.
If you can attend, can you email how many people you can bring and if any of them will be under 18 to Carol Anne Lever, Campaigner,
Save the Children, 1 St John's Lane, London EC1M 4AR
T 020 7012 6795
C.Lever@savethechildren.org.uk
www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards Presentation
Cllr Jamie Carswell, Chair of London Councils Housing Forum, invites you to attend the Awards Presentation on Thursday 15 November 2007 at 11.30 am
with special guests
Iain Wright MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Communities and Local Government
Jon Snow Newscaster, Channel 4 News and homelessness campaigner

BFI Southbank Light Box Entrance, Theatre Avenue (between BFI and National Theatre), Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XT
Light refreshments served after the awards presentation

RSVP by 8 November 2007 to Olga Matrenina 020 7934 9758 or email olga.matrenina@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Admittance is by invitation only
Now in its ninth year, this is the country’s leading homelessness awards scheme with prize money of £25,000.

The awards are run by London Councils on behalf of the capital’s 33 local councils and sponsored by London Housing Foundation, the government’s Communities and Local Government department and Shelter.
Come along and meet representatives from the six shortlisted organisations as well as service users and others involved in tackling homelessness in London.
See www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/ludlow

Housing Justice UNLEASH volunteers training
Autumn dates
Housing Justice UNLEASH runs a programme of training for volunteers in the field of homelessness. Places are FREE to Housing Justice member organisations, or individual members (scroll down for membership info)
Our Basic Training Day covers: Overview of homelessness including local authority tests, role of the voluntary sector etc, Mental Health Awareness, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and Dealing with Conflict.

All training days run from 10.00-4.00pm.
Last date of 2007
Basic Training Saturday 17 November
All Saints Church Carnegie St London N1 9QW
Booking is essential. If you or your volunteers would like to attend any of these training dates please email me for further info and a booking form a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk or call 020 7723 7273 x242

Join Housing Justice!
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best wishes,
Alastair

Alastair Murray
UNLEASH Coordinator
Housing Justice
209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT

office 020 7723 7273 x.242
mobile 078 7581 0216
www.housingjustice.org.uk
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