(en) Britain, The Anarchist Federation (AFED), RESISTANCE bulletin #157 - Young single mothers fight social cleansing in East London

The ?Focus E15 mothers? campaign is an inspiring and effective campaign that has directly 
challenged the housing policies of the government and private capital. Social housing has 
been decimated and developers build for the rich, whilst building a token amount of 
?affordable? housing, which is not in fact affordable for the majority of Londoners. ---- 
The E15 mothers have suffered as a direct result of these policies. Due to a shortage of 
social housing, they were housed by the East Thames Housing Association in the Focus E15 
hostel for young people who need support. However, local government cuts forced them out. 
In their words from their Facebook page: ---- On the 20th of August 2013 mothers were 
issued eviction notices from the housing association East Thames to be out of our flats by 
20th October 2013. East Thames explained that Newham council had cut ?41,000 of funding 
leading to the evictions. We questioned east Thames as to what would happen next we were 
simply told: ?I don?t know, we will have to wait and see?.

We were all referred to Newham Council?s Bridge house (housing office) and were all 
registered officially homeless. We were told to look for private rented accommodation in 
MANCHESTER, HASTINGS AND BIRMINGHAM! This meant we would have no support network? our 
children wouldn?t know their families. We decided to FIGHT FOR WHAT?S RIGHT!

Their determination has led to a campaign that has gathered support from many different 
groups and individuals; the ?mothers? are seen as representing the kind of struggle that 
should spread across the country- against the cuts, against developers and against social 
cleansing. In addition, it has made demands for what we would like to see: more social 
housing built and an end to the gentrification policies that are turning East London, and 
many other working class areas, into enclaves for the rich and middle class professionals.

The campaign is organised and led by the women themselves. Though they have outside 
support from activists, it is their campaign and they determine its direction. Single 
mothers are often demonised by the press as if the absent fathers bear no responsibility. 
It is the women who have to make a life for themselves and their child in very difficult 
circumstances. In the current climate of austerity, the obstacles are enormous. This is 
what is so inspiring about the E15 mothers campaign; they have not let themselves be 
demonised or pushed around because they are single mothers. They are fighting for what we 
should all have as part of a normal life- a place to live that is near family and friends, 
that is of good quality and truly affordable.

The campaign has been largely successful in that all the 29 mothers have now been rehoused 
in accommodation in the borough. This was the result of a militant campaign that involved 
not just regular public stalls but demonstrations and occupations. They have not stopped 
campaigning because of the apparent victory. They realise that they and many others still 
have a struggle to wage. They are now in private rented accommodation with rents only 
guaranteed for a year. They have now extended the campaign to address the housing issue in 
general, lending their significant voice and experience to a wider campaign for social 
housing.

Recently E15 Mothers went on the offensive again with their Open House Occupation of four 
homes on the Carpenters Estate in Stratford where Newham Council has decanted many tenants 
from council housing there and left empty flats in a borough crying out for social housing.

See: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-E15-Mothers

Download RESISTANCE bulletin issue #157 Autumn 2014 ANGRY WOMEN WIN, SPECIAL ISSUE[PDF]: 
http://www.afed.org.uk/res/resist157.pdf