“Having being involved in the homeless camps from day one, today as given me hope! However, we are very worried about Shanice Romanienko.”
(Wesley Dove, 30, born in Beswick, Homeless)
“You don't even pass the starting gate…There are nine inches of paperwork beside me... A wholly inappropriate way to proceed in litigation that seeks to deprive citizens of their liberty.”
(Judge Gore QC to Barrister Arron Walthall for Manchester City Council (MCC))
“Now, can I stop worrying about facing jail? I didn’t choose to be homeless and don’t want to be punished for having nowhere.”
(Nathan (Stretch) Cary, 29, born in Moston, Homeless)
“The Victory, though glorious, is Pyrrhic. Do MCC intend to issue a fresh application to commit my clients to prison? If yes, legal arguments must be properly aired. If no, by 10am tomorrow, they should apply to County Court for the injunction order to be discharged immediately. We are waiting.”
(Ben Taylor, WTB Solicitor acting for three of the seven Defendants)
When they created their camp in Albert Square seven months ago (April 2015), the isolated, homeless people who gathered together, away from doorways, alleyways and pavements in Manchester’s City Centre, felt safe for the first time.
Previously, as overwhelmingly young and individual homeless people, they had not been able to protect themselves but, once they formed a group, they began to look out for each other, and the passing public began to see them differently: offering solidarity from food and money, to kind words and active caring.
Around seven of the young people who have joined the camps at different times have been teenage women. One of them, Shanice Romanienko, 17, turned up and stayed on the camp in St Anne’s Square for three or four weeks. Wesley explains:
“She told us that she had a step dad who kept battering her mum and that was why she left home. She was safe with us on the camp. We think she was from Preston. When the camp got broken up she disappeared straight away. We haven’t been able to find her. Last week, Lifeshare posted her picture as a missing person in their offices in Houldsworth Street. We ask anyone with any information about Shanice to contact us through RAPAR.”
Ben Taylor, WTB Solicitor for three of the Defendants - Wesley, Ross and Nathan(aka “Stretch”) - who were facing committal to prison yesterday for allegedly breaching the terms of the injunction order, was delighted that His Honour, Judge Gore QC dismissed the application:
“The application was so flawed that the judge felt that he had choice... The degree of incompetence displayed by the Council in issuing such a cack-handed application is breath-taking.
The injunction remains in force. Because of the Council’s ineptitude, my clients have been denied their opportunity to challenge the order. My clients’ liberty was at stake. These are serious matters. The Council should have treated it as such.”
One of those clients, Ross Irving, 27, and originally from Wythenshawe describes:
“Our first victory and about time. Now let’s see if everyone can pull together and END homelessness in Manchester once and for all.”
Another homeless young man who was in court yesterday, but not named on the injunction, is Michael Coughlan, 26. Born in Wythenshawe, in and out of care as a child and prison as an adult, he is reflecting on the result and calls upon the public to:
“Support housing for the homeless today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life.”
This morning, longstanding homeless camp supporter Salford UNISON pledged:
“Salford City Unison will continue to stand with the oppressed until we get a compassionate response to this housing crisis. I would all who support the homeless to demonstrate on Sunday 4th to say No to Austerity, Yes to Workers Rights.” (Ameen Hadi, Treasurer)
And today Wesley, having spent yet another night on the street, says:
“The Council can’t keep punishing the homeless. Let’s end homelessness once and for all. We need to help each other. I want my name off this injunction order and I will not stop until that happens.”
RAPAR notes that Manchester Evening News is carrying an ONLINE ONLY report in which Councillor Murphy, MCC executive member for neighbourhoods, is quoted as saying: “We’re now working with our partners to develop our strategy around homelessness in the city.” (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/councils-bid-jail-people-living-10171163)
RAPAR is aware that MCC is working with a number of charities, and has even found the money to employ someone, to talk about how to deal with homelessness in the city. We are dismayed though that, at no point, did the Council see fit to formally approach either any of the street homeless camps people themselves - or us - for involvement.
ENDS
Background
The order that District Judge Matharu of Manchester’s Civil Justice courts approved on Friday 31st July 2015 forbids people from “erecting and/or occupying tents or other movable temporary forms of accommodation for the purposes of or in connection with protests or similar events arising from or connected with the Claimant’s [Manchester City Council’s] homeless policy on land”, within a specified area of the city “without the Claimant’s consent or the consent of the lawful occupier of the land.” The order goes on to define what is NOT INCLUDED AS MOVEABLE TEMPORARY FORMS OF ACCOMMODATION i.e. ACCORDING TO THE ORDER, ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO SLEEP IN THE CITY IF WE USE:
a. Sleeping bags / blankets; b. Cardboard boxes; c. Benches; d. Doorways; e. Bus shelters; f. Hostel accommodation; g. Overnight charity accommodation (Claim Number BO2MA238)
For further information contact Dr Rhetta Moran: [email protected]/ 07776264646 Please keep your eye on www.rapar.org.uk for updates