Housing Actions – January 2023
The European Action Coalition for the right to housing and to the city started the year expressing the following wishes:
“We wish 2023 to be the Year of Housing Justice! We wish for adequate housing for all! We wish for self-organized neighborhoods and block assemblies in every building, solidarity in all cities. We wish for occupations in all empty buildings, expropriations of speculators and slumlords. We wish for rent control and a ban on speculative holiday rentals. In short, we wish to get closer to no one being without an adequate and affordable house anymore! Our resolution is to keep fighting to fulfill our wishes!”
We are pleased to see that our comrades keep organizing actions for housing justice across Europe. Resistance is important to us, in the streets we can make a difference.
Solidarity with all those who struggle!
17.01 / Spain: BIG LEGAL VICTORY AGAINST VULTURE FUND AZORA!
📢 Historic victory for Sindicat de llogaters in it’s trial against Azora, third largest vulture fund in the country!
The sentence declares the main abusive clauses used by vulture funds null and void and sets a very important precedent ✊🔥
This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the struggle of hundreds of Azora tenants all across the country since 2019!
25.01 / Paris, France: DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE KASBARIAN-BERGÉ LAW
📢 Demonstration in front of the Senate to demand the withdrawal of the Kasbarian-Bergé law proposal, at the initiative of the United associations collective (👉 Collectif des Associations Unies) and the Housing for all platform (👉 Plateforme Logement POUR Tou.te.s).
🗣️ Housing is not a crime, it is a right!
25.01 / Vienna, Austria: RALLY AGAINST COMPANIES PECADO & OMEGA
On January 25th, 👉 a rally was organized against the real estate company “Pecado” and the property management firm “Omega,” who are responsible for the inhumane conditions in the properties they manage. 30 residents have been without hot water and electricity since October, and some properties are in disrepair, forcing the occupants to either move or pay exorbitant rent for substandard apartments. Omega regularly exploits refugees and non-German speakers, taking advantage of their vulnerable position, with a sole focus on maximizing profits. Stop evictions Vienna stands with these individuals to fight for their human rights to secure and dignified living conditions.
26.01 / Athens, Greece: HOUSING PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT
In Greece, the movement against housing auctions has been leading the fight for the protection of primary residences, for the cancellation of illegitimate debts and for the support of indebted households, victims of a continuous crisis and austerity.
✊ The movement against housing auctions has experienced important victories that have prevented the eviction of poor households but also defeats : the different Greek governments have adopted laws contrary to the interests of the people but beneficial to the banks and vulture funds.
‼️ Recent Supreme Court decisions have shown that some of these laws were actually illegal ! Management companies (who traumatise debtors on a daily basis) were in fact not allowed to carry out auctions or evictions of households. It was only in 2015 that a law made this possible. In other words, thousands of debts were sold to vulture funds that auctioned off and evicted households when they had NO right to do so!
📣 👉 The unitary initiative against auctions gathered in front of the Supreme Court where the consequences of the 2003 law were discussed.
Their demands:
- Horizontal protection of primary residences
- Cancellation of illegitimate private debts
- A ban on the sale of debts to vulture funds
- A ban on online housing auctions
A roof is a right !
No to auctions of primary residences!
Stop evictions!
28.01 / Grenoble, France: DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE KASBARIAN-BERGÉ LAW
Despite the freezing cold, a dynamic and joyful demonstration took place in Grenoble against the Kasbarian/Bergé law. Lively slogans, songs punctuated by casserolades, interventions of homeless families, of the DAL 38, of the coordination of occupied schools, of Femmes Égalité, of the LIFPL, of squatters, … There was also a massive distribution of leaflets in the city center. In short a beautiful protest which was tainted at the end of the route by the arrest with gasing of a young comrade by the cops of the BAC (anti-crime squad). Another incomprehensible and inadmissible police provocation. After an improvised rally in front of the police station, the comrade left the comico after 3 hours.
👉 WITHDRAWAL OF THE KASBARIAN/BERGÉ LAW!
👉 STOP POLICE VIOLENCE!
