Discussion group on Housing

Some links to feed the discussion
http://housingcrisis.org.uk/
http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/blog/view_entry.asp?id=209
http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns/housing_issues/the_housing_crisis
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14723796
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/london-2012-olympics-blog/2011/aug/30/boris-johnson-community-land-trust-london-olympic-park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis
http://www.midnightnotes.org/Promissory%20Notes.pdf
http://www.squashcampaign.org/
HACKNEY SPECIFIC
http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2011/08/well-street-traders-face-eviction-after-rent-talks-collapse/
http://wellfurnished.wordpress.com/
http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2011/08/people%e2%80%99s-supermarket-plans-new-store-in-hackney/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2010/apr/30/housing-crisis-hackney-homelessness
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23928746-pound-10000-a-week-to-rent-a-home-for-the-olympics.do

We had a good and productive meeting (re: housing) last night, but thought it may be worth carrying over some of the discussions to the next HAG meeting on Tuesday (13th), to get everybody’s opinion on some of the issues. A couple of things that came up, and may be some areas to discuss at the infonight:

– “We are building a property-owning democracy” (from http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/blog/view_entry.asp?id=209). What are the implications of this, both local and international?
– Community Land Trusts – I (personally) hadn’t come across this idea until very recently, and i’m still trying to get my head around exactly what it is and its potential benefits. There’s some general info on it on wikipedia and the like, but it may also be worth thinking about it more critically?
– Tying in housing and the riots. Obviously the Wansworth proposed evictions were given some publicity, are there any other struggles happening. Can we (practically) help out with this?