Defend Council Housing and UCAN build bridges to organise UC campaign

Defend Council Housing - Homes for All - monthly meeting held on 15 February 2020 at Unite the Union London & Eastern Region - explains Kay Bollard, Unite Community Secretary, Tower Hamlets.

A fantastic turn out is normally in attendance covering all areas of the UK, from Cornwall, Harlow, Cambridge, Beds, Haringey, to mention just a few. One issue at the forefront - HOUSING. All types of residencies were present: secure-council, assured, private, shared owners, leasehold, housing associations and trusts.

Universal Credit was discussed with a crushing blow, that like bacteria eats away at even the healthiest of humans. It was accepted that working and non working households are affected by the sheer design of such a benefit. UCAN were on hand to advise and encourage the expansion of the network to other grassroots organisations.

Representatives of UCAN explained to the packed room the reason behind the development of the group - very much a grassroots campaign, linking up with UK activists, Unite Community groups, lawyers, welfare rights and debt advisors. UCAN emphasised the significance of its website www.onlineucan.org where up to date blogs, articles, template letters and contact details are available for free for activists to use and adapt for their purpose.

It was received positively by the meeting and UCAN will attend all subsequent meetings and the housing summit in the spring 2020. A number of activists are keen on replicating the network in their locality.

Comments

UCAN's Response to Parliamentary Inquiry on Universal Credit

UNIVERSAL CREDIT ACTION NETWORK CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: A LESSON FOR US TO LEARN Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment - an Inquiry Response to the Parliamentary Committee’s acceptance of evidence to call on Universal Credit: The wait for a first payment —— ‘TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE THE MITIGATIONS THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED SO FAR (E.G. ADVANCE PAYMENTS) HELPED TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE FIVE WEEK WAIT FOR UC CLAIMANTS?’ UCAN’S RESPONSE: A SUMMARY Universal Credit Action Network (UCAN) believes that a reduction from six to five weeks waiting period has not made any significant improvements to the financial position of claimants on Universal Credit (UC). Peobody Trust, one of the largest housing associations in the country, mentioned in its published report in October 2019: The Impact of Universal Credit , which outlines that 76% of Peobody Trust tenants on UC are in rent arrears. It also stated that five weeks waiting period ha

Former Debt Adviser secretly tells UCAN of MaPS contract

Due to fear of being penalised by their employer, a former debt adviser secretly explains working under Money Advice Pension Service (MaPS) contract. ' MaPS very nearly broke me, and I had to leave debt advice altogether in order to have a quality of life. ' 'The MaPS contract, and in particular its nonsensically onerous DAPA requirements, ended over 20 years of dedicated service with an organisation I had expected to retire working for. The MaPS contract nearly destroyed my physical and emotional health, and that of other long-term, incredibly hardworking debt advisers, who were also left with no option but to change their career direction after 10-20 years and leave to work for other charities or housing associations. The MaPS contract turned both debt advisers and clients into faceless commodities; it was all about the numbers without consideration for the impact its unrealistic and unachievable DAPA requirements have on both debt advice staff and, as a result, clients.

Campaign against fuel Poverty

The price of fuel is going up, inflation is also going up, already 9 fuel suppliers have gone bust and £20 cut on universal credit which Rishi Sunak addressed by changing taper rate from 63p to 55p for working claimants. In coming months many vulnerable communities may face hardship. Positive Money Hackney and Positive Money Tower Hamlets call for a Facebook live and in person public meeting to raise awareness of fuel poverty. Join us to understand about the fuel industry and your rights against suppliers.

Universal Credit Action Network

Search This Blog