The UK is suffering from a housing crisis, and Birmingham is no exception. Only 16% of houses built in the city in 2016-17 were affordable, and gentrification is spreading across the city rapidly. But across Birmingham, groups, individuals and communities have come together to challenge Birmingham’s broken housing system, and develop alternatives together. We held an event showcasing some of the most exciting housing groups in the city today, and asked them to share their alternatives. The event was also an opportunity to launch our new guide, How to make the
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The UK is suffering from a housing crisis, and Birmingham is no exception. Only 16% of houses built in the city in 2016-17 were affordable, and gentrification is spreading across the city rapidly.
But across Birmingham, groups, individuals and communities have come together to challenge Birmingham’s broken housing system, and develop alternatives together. We held an event showcasing some of the most exciting housing groups in the city today, and asked them to share their alternatives.
The event was also an opportunity to launch our new guide, How to make the case for community-led housing on public land. The Government’s sale of public land provides a resource which could kickstart community-led affordable development, but all too often this land is sold to the highest bidder. Our new guide aims to help community groups access this land for community benefit.
Here are some highlights from the event:
The event began with NEF Organiser Rebecca Winson, who set the scene for Birmingham’s housing crisis.
‘The housing crisis is about land and power. Land ownership is hugely unequal, power of housing policy and law is hugely unequal’. @NEF in this house tonight @ImpactHubBrum with @AndyReevo & #DemoDev. pic.twitter.com/3zimUZUnzX
— Imandeep Kaur (@ImmyKaur) May 10, 2018
The attendees were asked to identify what they thought were the barriers to truly affordable accessible housing in Birmingham.
Not enough council properties, land banking, dishonest definitions of ‘affordable’, and insecure tenancies – all identified as fuel for Birmingham’s #housingcrisis #brumhousing pic.twitter.com/6UTUwgwnLA
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
"Truly community led housing is inclusive, and gives community control over what it should be and what it should look like. All people to be in the lead, designing and building the model that works for them." People powered housing talk @ImpactHubBrum w/ @NEF
— Sally Taylor (@sallytaylorbrum) May 10, 2018
NEF Organiser Heather Kennedy then presented our new guide for community groups, showing how it can be used to get access to public land for affordable housing.
The government is having a fire sale of public land, but we want to retain public land for community use – Heather from @NEF #brumhousing pic.twitter.com/D8i4RDVzjF
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
Adam Eddlestone from Acorn Birmingham, a branch of the tenants’ union and anti-poverty organising group, explained why organisations representing private tenants are so essential. Members work together to defend tenants against exploitative landlords.
There is no body to represent private tenants, so we need to work with them to find solutions – Adam from @AcornBirmingham #brumhousing pic.twitter.com/Q7RBfit0ps
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
Peter Richmond from the Birmingham Community-Led Housing Partnership advocated for community-led housing – why it is essential for local people to have a say over where and how they live.
Unless local people have control over their housing, our housing system is not going to be adequate #brumhousing pic.twitter.com/5Q2Bux7voM
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
The evening ended with Bright Muyoti and Joanna Muyoti from NeAs, a community group in Nechells and Aston, which is beginning its work towards affordable, community-led housing in the area. Bright emphasised the importance of homes which serve the local community: homes which have space for intergenerational living, which are safe, and which are truly affordable.
Unaffordable housing as a knock on effect – fuel poverty, antisocial behaviour, and overcrowding #ThursdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/TXNQdWtSoi
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
If you are interested in the work of NeAs, who want to create community led affordable housing in Aston and Nechells, visit their Facebook page https://t.co/mh4lVgzjcR #brumhousing pic.twitter.com/QLHmJ03H7n
— NEF (@NEF) May 10, 2018
NeAs are organising a community walk on June 2nd, to identify sites which can be used for community-led housing. Details here.