On Monday (17th September 2007) the newly formed campaign group Housing4All held its first demonstration for accessible housing for disabled people and against Birmingham City Council leaving disabled people homeless, outside the Council House in Birmingham City Centre.

10 protestors from Birmingham (all of whom both had some form of physical or mental impairment, and had been homeless due to housing inequality and access issues) "camped" outside the main entrance to Council House with sleeping bags and placards (with such slogans as "You say we have "special needs", but we just need equal rights", "Free Our People" and "Housing is a Human Right") for several hours, drawing the attention of council employees, passers-by (including homeless people), and workers dismantling the stages for the arts festival which had been held in Birmingham over the weekend.

They were later joined by people who had come from as far as Cambridge and Reading after having seen the protest advertised on Indymedia ( http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/381029.html).

Housing4All demanded an audience with John Lines (BCC Cabinet member in charge of housing issues), but were told that he was in an "executive meeting" that lasted all day and thus was unable to speak to the demonstrators. However, Neil Traynor, a Housing Strategic manager for BCC, did come out of Council House to address the protest, and agreed to speak to 4 of the protestors in Council House's reception area. He promised to look at the case, talk to the Housing Department and get back to Housing4All on Tuesday with a view to identifying 2 bedroom properties which might be suitable to have adaptations put in place for the disabled man and member of Housing4All who had been allowed to become homeless despute being "top priority" on BCC's housing list for almost 2 years (however, as of today (Wednesday) there has been no reply from Traynor or his department).

A passing Green Party activist took photographs (below) and pledged her party's support for Housing4All and for the cause of disabled people's liberation in general, and Liberal Democrat councillor Esing4Allmily Cox also gave protestors her card and offered what help she could in influencing the Council to provide accessible housing.

After the demo, protestors went to a nearby cafe for refreshments and a discussion of where to go next. The activists from Reading and Cambridge confirmed that the criminal lack of affordable, accessible accommodation is not just a Birmingham issue but a nationwide issue, and many housing-related issues (including squatting, housing co-ops, energy sustainability and the closure and selling off of "care homes") were discussed, with agreement that a national network of activists for accessible housing was urgently needed.

It was agreed that there would be more Housing4All actions in Birmingham, with the next tentatively scheduled for approximately a fortnight away.

To get in touch with Housing4All phone Tom on 0121 2447985 or 07816 275985 or email Steve at  soulrebel@riseup.net . A mailing list will soon be set up for discussion and update.