Cornerhouse eviction has only added to housing crisis
NETWORK Rail’s eviction of the 20 or so people from the Cornerhouse cinema building has added to the desperate housing crisis currently facing Manchester.
This unused building has been peacefully occupied for many months by people who otherwise would be faced with the prospect of sleeping rough on the streets of our city.
Your article about the eviction noted that the site has been ‘earmarked as a future site for new flats, offices, and a hotel although it is not known when work will begin on this project.’
Based on recent planning applications recently approved by Manchester city council for developments in the city centre that your paper has reported, it seems extremely unlikely that any part of this proposed development will include much needed affordable housing.
Our new mayor, Andy Burnham, promised in his manifesto that he would bring about an end to rough sleeping in Manchester by 2020.
Unfortunately, as Mr Burnham himself noted recently on walking around Manchester, it seems that rough sleeping and homelessness is only increasing.
There is a huge shortage of decent affordable housing in Manchester and if rough sleeping is to end, that must change.
Greater Manchester Unite Community branch are deeply concerned and disappointed about this recent eviction. We call upon Mr Burnham and our council leaders to take urgent action, both to directly assist the people affected by this latest eviction to find safe accommodation and to ensure that the promise to end rough sleeping in Manchester will be kept. We will contact Mr Burnham directly in the hope of engaging in constructive dialogue on this issue. To have a safe and secure home is a human right for all, not a privilege for the few. Zoe Cattan, political officer, Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch