Software / Materials used: Procreate, FolkArt Outdoor Paints, Posca Paint Pens
‘Everyone has a right to a safe home and a lockable front door’
'17.5 million people are now impacted by the housing emergency. HSBC UK are working in partnership with Shelter to support people in crisis now and provide longer-term solutions that will help build financial resilience and reduce the risk of all forms of homelessness in the UK.
Earlier in 2023 Birmingham declared a housing emergency with 19,500 people on the housing register and 4,400 people stuck in temporary accommodation. Birmingham is the second worst city in England for homelessness. Together we want to raise awareness of the thousands of families and individuals stuck for years in unstable and unfit temporary accommodation.
Through a creative art installation positioned strategically throughout the city during the winter, we can highlight the true enormity of the housing crisis in Birmingham.'
In response to an open call for local artists, I designed and painted a door mural showcasing the stories of families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Through a creative art installation positioned strategically throughout the city during the winter, we can highlight the true enormity of the housing crisis in Birmingham.'
In response to an open call for local artists, I designed and painted a door mural showcasing the stories of families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Case Study
Background:
Client, wife and 3 children aged 2 and 1 were living in 1 room in Ladbrooke Hotel. The client was in the hotel for over 8 months and 2 weeks, when they first approached Shelter for assistance. The family did not have access to kitchen facilities and therefore had to rely on takeaways, which added to their expenses. They do not have access to laundrette facilities at the hotel and therefore had to use external laundrettes. The client had young children who needed nutritious meals and therefore required uninterrupted access to kitchens. The client and his family were cramped in 1 room – the client works as a taxi driver and found that when he was returning late from work, he was disturbing his children’s sleep. Equally, when children were waking to attend nursery in the morning, his sleep was interrupted, which meant that he did not feel rested before starting the next day at work.
Background:
Client, wife and 3 children aged 2 and 1 were living in 1 room in Ladbrooke Hotel. The client was in the hotel for over 8 months and 2 weeks, when they first approached Shelter for assistance. The family did not have access to kitchen facilities and therefore had to rely on takeaways, which added to their expenses. They do not have access to laundrette facilities at the hotel and therefore had to use external laundrettes. The client had young children who needed nutritious meals and therefore required uninterrupted access to kitchens. The client and his family were cramped in 1 room – the client works as a taxi driver and found that when he was returning late from work, he was disturbing his children’s sleep. Equally, when children were waking to attend nursery in the morning, his sleep was interrupted, which meant that he did not feel rested before starting the next day at work.
Action:
We assisted the client in lodging a formal complaint to BCC on the basis that the council had breached the 2003 Order, by keeping the client in a hotel for more than 6 weeks. We asked the client is moved to more suitable temporary accommodation and that the council provide financial redress to the client in line with the LGSCO guidance on remedies. Following our stage 1 complaint, the client received an apology and offer of financial redress which consists of: £2,900 for his excessive stay, an additional £100 per week, until the client is moved to more suitable accommodation and £900 for the distress. Given that this response, only partially addressed our complaint, we lodged a stage 2 complaint. Following this complaint, the client has received a final offer of long-term housing – this is a 2-bedroom flat. The client is awaiting a move-in date as well as a viewing date.
We assisted the client in lodging a formal complaint to BCC on the basis that the council had breached the 2003 Order, by keeping the client in a hotel for more than 6 weeks. We asked the client is moved to more suitable temporary accommodation and that the council provide financial redress to the client in line with the LGSCO guidance on remedies. Following our stage 1 complaint, the client received an apology and offer of financial redress which consists of: £2,900 for his excessive stay, an additional £100 per week, until the client is moved to more suitable accommodation and £900 for the distress. Given that this response, only partially addressed our complaint, we lodged a stage 2 complaint. Following this complaint, the client has received a final offer of long-term housing – this is a 2-bedroom flat. The client is awaiting a move-in date as well as a viewing date.
Result:
The client has not only achieved an offer of monetary compensation - but also an offer of long-term housing. (Just to point out this case is still ongoing as the client has not actually received the compensation yet and he is still awaiting the move-in date for the new flat).
The client has not only achieved an offer of monetary compensation - but also an offer of long-term housing. (Just to point out this case is still ongoing as the client has not actually received the compensation yet and he is still awaiting the move-in date for the new flat).
Artists:
Vanessa Mountain, Rachel Akers, Rakha Madahar, Azim Omar Nobeebaccus, Lileth McAdam-Leng, Maureen Russell, Matt Grazier, Fungai Benhura, Reon Tombofa, Harry Charles.
Photography: James Robinson
Vanessa Mountain, Rachel Akers, Rakha Madahar, Azim Omar Nobeebaccus, Lileth McAdam-Leng, Maureen Russell, Matt Grazier, Fungai Benhura, Reon Tombofa, Harry Charles.
Photography: James Robinson
