Press Release – For immediate release // 30th April 2015
RESIDENTS OF HOMELESS CAMP FACE SECOND COUNCIL APPLICATION FOR EVICTION ORDER
Camp residents and their supporters will be at the County Court tomorrow:
Friday, May 1st 2015, Manchester County Court, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, 1 Bridge Street West, Manchester.
Residents of the Homeless Camp in the city centre are facing a second eviction attempt by Manchester City Council.
The hearing will be held at 2pm tomorrow (Friday) and WTB solicitors of Longsight, who are representing some of the residents, will cite the Human Rights Act and the Housing Act to challenge the application for a possession order.
Ben Taylor, of WTB Solicitors, submitted a similar challenge to the first eviction order but this was refused by the District Judge – not on the merits of the defence but on the grounds that the camp resident represented by Mr Taylor had failed to turn up to a previous hearing, although others from the camp were there.
The Homeless Camp has moved from its original site in Albert Square to St Peter's Square and residents say they will not move from Manchester's public spaces because they want to raise awareness about the dramatic rise of homelessness in the city following the austerity cuts.
They also feel more secure sleeping in tents together rather than sleeping individually in doorways, car parks or under the Mancunian Way.
After the last court hearing, solicitor Ben Taylor said: “Manchester City Council own the land and have brought these proceedings but, under the Housing Act 1996, Manchester City Council also has obligations and duties to assess and provide accommodation to the homeless who are unintentionally homeless and have a priority need.
“I would have liked and preferred to have seen Manchester City Council, instead of taking proceedings to evict, first to investigate whether any of the individuals on the land have homeless issues that the local authority has an obligation to address.”
The Camp was set up on April 15th following a demonstration against homelessness in the city
WTB Solicitors have started a blog relating to the Homeless Camp on their website http://www.wtbsolicitors.com/homeless-camp-in-manchester/
The Facebook Page for Homeless Rights of Justice Mcr now has 1,500 Likes and has regular updates from the Camp
https://www.facebook.com/HomelessRoJ?fref=ts
Also, please keep an eye on the RAPAR website for updates http://www.rapar.org.uk/keep-your-coins---we-want-change.html
For more information, contact Kath Grant 07758386208