PRESS RELEASE: Embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 18 June

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Residents call on South Yorkshire Mayor to declare housing emergency in region

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Powerful South Yorkshire will be holding its launch event in Doncaster city centre on Saturday 20 June

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Residents and community groups from across South Yorkshire will gather in Doncaster this weekend [Saturday 20 June] to launch Powerful South Yorkshire (PSY) - a new campaign calling on Mayor Oliver Coppard to use his newly strengthened powers to tackle a housing crisis that is leaving families in cold, damp and unaffordable homes.

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The group behind the campaign, which aims to tackle poor housing and inequality in South Yorkshire, has called on renters from across the region to join them for a family-friendly action day in Doncaster City Centre on Saturday to share their experiences of poor housing and dodgy landlords.

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PSY is calling on the mayor to declare an emergency in unhealthy homes in the region and fund a crackdown on landlords  letting homes fall into disrepair.

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The group will be meeting at Clock Corner, Doncaster City Centre, from 11.15am where there will be activities including Morris dancing, poster-making and a performance from local band Moon Phases.

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Heather Kennedy, community engagement manager at the New Economics Foundation, who has been helping to set up the campaign said:

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“Our homes and neighbourhoods are where we raise our kids, look after our parents and rest after a long week. We all want to feel our home is safe and our family isn’t breathing in mould or that the next heating bill is going to break us.

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“Our homes in South Yorkshire are among the dampest, least energy-efficient in the country. Yet landlords continue to collect rent while mould climbs the walls and our children are made sick.

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“But it doesn’t have to be this way, and people in South Yorkshire are doing something about it. Powerful South Yorkshire is calling on the mayor to publicly declare an emergency in unhealthy homes in the region and fund a crackdown on poor housing standards.”

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Iris Blackthorn, from Doncaster, has been part of the PSY campaign since it started *** months ago. She said:

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"I've been both street homeless and in hostels, living in temporary accommodation filled with black mould, with no hot water and heating. You daren't speak up for fear of having nowhere to go. 

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“Many people are struggling to pay their bills, yet landlords and utility companies continue to make a profit from their suffering. We are sold a lie that this is the fault of the 'lazy', the addicted, the migrant - anyone but those truly responsible. 

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“The people making decisions in South Yorkshire have, for too long, turned a blind eye to this suffering. That's why I support Powerful South Yorkshire - because everyone deserves a safe place to live."

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Renter Mickey Allen, from Maltby in Rotherham, said:

“As a renter, I am appalled at the way people are treated in their own homes by not only the letting agencies hired by landlords that don't care, but by councils that don't take enough action against them. 

“I have seen blatant racism, mounds of unnecessary red tape and repairs that are not only very poor in quality, but are also used as justification for rent rises on top of rents that are already unaffordable. 

“This behaviour is unacceptable and the ones committing these atrocities should be ashamed of themselves.”

Disabled Renter Hannah Croft, from Doncaster, said:

“Everyone deserves a home that is safe, functional and treated with basic respect, but as a disabled tenant on the fourth floor we were left struggling to cope with constant neglect, from no electricity to sewage leaking through the ceiling in communal areas, the flat block was unliveable for half the time.”

"The letting agency repeatedly refused to take responsibility, giving us the runaround and blaming others, and couldn’t even tell us who owned the building while conditions got worse and tenants were left to cope alone."

"That’s why we need real accountability and stronger action to stop renters being ignored and forced to live in unacceptable conditions.”

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Contact 

James Rush – james.rush@neweconomics.org / 07929 866591 

Notes 

Powerful South Yorkshire is supported by Reclaiming Our Regional Economics - a five-year programme developed by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Centre for Thriving Places, Co-operatives UK and the New Economics Foundation.

S RELEASE: Embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 18 June

‍

Residents call on South Yorkshire Mayor to declare housing emergency in region

‍

Powerful South Yorkshire will be holding its launch event in Doncaster city centre on Saturday 20 June

‍

Residents and community groups from across South Yorkshire will gather in Doncaster this weekend [Saturday 20 June] to launch Powerful South Yorkshire (PSY) - a new campaign calling on Mayor Oliver Coppard to use his newly strengthened powers to tackle a housing crisis that is leaving families in cold, damp and unaffordable homes.

‍

The group behind the campaign, which aims to tackle poor housing and inequality in South Yorkshire, has called on renters from across the region to join them for a family-friendly action day in Doncaster Ccity Ccentre on Saturday to share their experiences of poor housing and dodgy landlords.

‍

PSY is calling on the mayor to declare an emergency in unhealthy homes in the region and fund a crackdown on landlords households letting homes fall into disrepair.

‍

The group will be meeting at Clock Corner, Doncaster City CentreBaxtergate, from 11.15am where there will be activities including Morris dancing, poster-making and a performance from local band Moon Phases.

‍

Heather Kennedy, community engagement manager at the New Economics Foundation, who has been helping to set up the campaign said:

‍

“Our homes and neighbourhoods are where we raise our kids, look after our parents and rest after a long week. We all want to feel our home is safe and our family isn’t breathing in mould or that the next heating bill is going to break us.

‍

“But our homes in South Yorkshire are among the dampest, least most energy-efficient in the country. Yet landlords continue to collect rent while mould climbs the walls and our children are made sick.

‍

“But it doesn’t have to be this way, and people in South Yorkshire are doing something about it. Powerful South Yorkshire is calling on the mayor to publicly declare an emergency in unhealthy homes in the region and fund a crackdown on poor housing standards.”

‍

Iris Blackthorn, from Doncaster, has been part of the PSY campaign since it started *** months ago. She said:

‍

"I've been both street homeless and in hostels, living in temporary accommodation filled with black mould, with no hot water and heating. You daren't speak up for fear of having nowhere to go. 

‍

“Many people are struggling to pay their bills, yet landlords and utility companies continue to make a profit from their suffering. We are sold a lie that this is the fault of the 'lazy', the addicted, the immigrant - anyone but those truly responsible. 

‍

“The people making decisions in South Yorkshire have, for too long, turned a blind eye to this suffering. That's why I support Powerful South Yorkshire - because everyone deserves a safe place to live."

‍

Renter Mickey Allen, from Maltby in Rotherham, said:

“As a renter, I am appalled at the way people are treated in their own homes by not only the letting agencies that are hired by landlords that don't care, but by councils that don't take enough action against them. 

“I have seen blatant racism, mounds of unnecessary red tape and repairs that are not only very poor in quality, but are also used as justification for rent rises on top of rents that are already unaffordable. 

“This behaviour is unacceptable and the ones committing these atrocities should be ashamed of themselves.”

Disabled Renter Hannah Croft, from Doncaster, said:

“Everyone deserves a home that is safe, functional and treated with basic respect, but as a disabled tenant on the fourth floor we were left struggling to cope with constant neglect, from no electricity to sewage leaking through the ceiling in communal areas, the flat block was unliveable for half the time.”

"The letting agency repeatedly refused to take responsibility, giving us the runaround and blaming others, and couldn’t even tell us who owned the building while conditions got worse and tenants were left to cope alone."

"That’s why we need real accountability and stronger action to stop renters being ignored and forced to live in unacceptable conditions.”

‍

For more information on the event or the PSY campaign visit ***.

‍

Contact 

James Rush – james.rush@neweconomics.org / 07929 866591 

Notes 

Powerful South Yorkshire is supported by Reclaiming Our Regional Economics - a five-year programme developed by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Centre for Thriving Places, Co-operatives UK and the New Economics Foundation.

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