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DCONFUSION AS KIDS COLUMN GETS AXEDSalford Advertiser has apparently decided to cancel the regular “Children'sChampion” column. It follows a a number of cuts including closure of theirSwinton office at the local paper which is owned by the Guardian MediaGroup who also publish the Manchester Evening News. The section featuredpositive stories often written by local young people about projects that havechanged their lives. We asked people for their thoughts on the matter:

YOUNG ACTIVISTSATTEMPT TO ARRESTLOCAL SALFORD MP

NOUT IN SALFORD // AUGUST 2009 // P1

YOURCITYYOURVOICE

CITYWIDE ANGER AS HAZEL BLEARS RESELECTED

SHOCK AS SUPPORT PLUMMETS TO JUST 3%According to a poll on local news website Salford Online97% of people said they would not vote for Blears atthe next general election. Meanwhile the “Hazel Must Go”campaign has gained support from trade union UNISONalong with dozens of local community groups. They arecurrently collecting a petition calling for the MP to resignand plans to field an independent candidate next yeaand plans to field an independent candidate next year.

council@salfordyouth.org.ukemail our chairs - Salford belongs to YOU - are you a future leader?

I DON’T WANT SOME LUXURY FLAT: JUST GIVE US SOMEWHERE TO LIVE!

WANT MORE? check out the back pagefor even more news and great articles >>

I think it is a shame because when youread most newspapers all you see isbad reports about young people. Theyshould bring it back right away. Rachel

I‘ve been homeless in Salford for over two yearsand I have tried everything to get a place of my own, but it feels as if the city council just don’twant to know. Why does the council keep onapproving new expensive apartment blocks butin Salford Quays and along Chapel Street but prefers to forget about people like me? prefers to forget about people like me? Spike

My parents read the local paper I don’treally bother except for the sports page.I did read it sometimes but to be honestit would interest me more if it was moregritty they had a whole page. Kristian

After she failed to pay the tax-man and over claimedon her expenses, local member of Parliament forSalford, Hazel Blears faced a crunch meeting atCivic Centre in Swinton earlier this month. FellowLabour party members were meeting to decide ifshe would be allowed to stand for re-election whilsta rather loud protest organised by local people froma rather loud protest organised by local people fromall walks of life took place outside. Blears managedto win her vote and has vowed to fight to keep herseat at the next general election. Outside in the rainaround 40 protestors gathered including David Henrywho is also co-chair of Salford Youth Council with amegaphone and around a dozen homeless youngpeople who came to protest at the City Councilpeople who came to protest at the City Council’sfailure to find them somewhere to live and HazelBlears herself who recently stepped down as thecommunities secretary - responsible for stuff likesocial housing (or the lack of it!). David and othersvowed to perform a “Citizens Arrest” on the troubledMP (peacefully we should add) and read out a sheetof charges with the police. One week later it wasof charges with the police. One week later it wasannounced MPs would not face criminal charges inrelation to their alleged stealing of expenses.

IS THIS THE END FORLOCAL NEWSPAPERS?

national media descended on Salford as local people protested against political corruption in June

FREE

So Salford has a youth council that hasgot it’s act together at last but is it gettinga little too radical for it’s own good? That’swhat certain people have been sayingon the grapevine...sure, we’ve rocked afew boats and forced people to listen tothe voices of the unheard that plenty ofthe voices of the unheard that plenty ofdecision makers just don’t want to hear.We’ve moved beyond the stereotypical“talking shop” style youth council imageand we focus on campaigning on issuesthat really matter to the youth of Salford.We’re not afraid to be critical of the waythings really are - things really are - we won’t be censored!

Homeless Services: a round-trip to despair?In Salford, like many areas of the country homes are nowallocated via the controversial " bidding cycle". We believethis system is flawed and acts as a barrier for many at riskand vulnerable people in desperate need of rehousing.Many people who are in fact homeless go straight to thebottom of the bidding list. bottom of the bidding list. You can of course "call in" to theSalford Property Shop, probably the only "shop" in SalfordPrecinct that has absolutely nothing to sell! From the outsidethis tense looking outpost looks like a letting agency, butthere are no properties to rent! All you can do is get a copyof the latest list of properties available to bid for (whichsometimes no properties you will qualify for even if you arehomeless!). Although if you need to get yourself on the longhomeless!). Although if you need to get yourself on the longwaiting list going in to the property shop is your best andfastest way to do it as even if you apply over the phone oronline you still need to send them your identification socalling in to the shop means you can do it all at once. If youdon't take in your ID they'll suspend your application veryswiftly. Don't forget lots of younger people especially thosefrom poorer backgrounds don't have the right identificationfrom poorer backgrounds don't have the right identificationsuch as a Passport or Driving license complicating thingseven further. So just how long does it take to get a councilhouse in the great city of Salford? Even the council can't tellyou that, Waiting times are a mysterious and contentioussubject. Any attempt to find out results in a blank face and thetiresome "can't really say to be honest" and a shrug of theshoulders from fed up underpaid, poorly trained andshoulders from fed up underpaid, poorly trained anddemoralised " advisors". Even the name of the housing office"Property Shop" is misleading, it is not a shop! and it hasno properties for sale or let! Anyone in need of rehousing isadvised they'd be "better off" crashing on a friends floor,looking for a private landlord or making a four mile journeyto leafy Swinton to make an appointment at the even morepointless and soul destroying home of Salford's "Housingpointless and soul destroying home of Salford's "HousingAdvice and Support Services Team" known as CromptonHouse... if its open. " Homeless Services" is based in Swintonfor most people especially those living in the poorest areasof the city this is quite a trip. Along with the distance theopening times are quite tight and those who work or havechildren find it difficult to get an appointment or attend thedrop in services. Once you do make contact the firstdrop in services. Once you do make contact the firstappointment you have is an exercise at getting you backout of the door as quickly as possible. Council staff misleadpeople into providing information that means they are nottechnically classed as homeless (even though they havenowhere to live!).There is only one person available at thecounter with many people waiting a long time just to get thestastaff's attention even if you ring the bell people are often leftwaiting. Appointments are frequently canceled due to staffsickness and shortages and cases sat on people's desks arealso frequently delayed for the same reason. If you don't go inand harass the front desk every day then sooner or later they forget about you, almost as if they assume your no longer inneed of their services, where is their duty of care? This is notjust limited to Salford, but things need to change, and just limited to Salford, but things need to change, and FAST.

Jane (right) along with 10 youngpeople squatted a large emptyhouse in Whitworth Park andthe section 21 notice they stuckon the front door (top photo)

SALFORD YOUTH TV: Get involved - be a film star!

USEFUL CONTACTS

NOWHERE TO LIVE?WHAT YOU CAN DOTips for homeless young people in SalfordNeed to save your bacon from the horrorsof sleeping rough? you need to be proactivein standing up for your rights and not allowyourself to be bullied or ignored. This takesyourself to be bullied or ignored. This takesup a lot of your time and energy, and foranyone who has just lost their home or isabout to this can make the task of findingsomewhere to live even more daunting.This is not an full guide, it has been writtenby young people from Salford who havebeen homeless and found their way out.been homeless and found their way out.See our list of useful contacts below for more support

Private LandlordsThe council tells homeless people to considerrenting privately, but the majority of landlords stillrefuse to accept tenants on benefits. Some alsorefuse to house anyone under 25. Ever seenthe line “No DSS”? - Steer clear! they will chargeyou to check references and credit checks andyou to check references and credit checks andplenty keep your money if you get turned down.To rent privately you are going to need either a half-decent credit-rating or a guarantor as well as atleast a months rent up front for a deposit. Most ofthem advertise in the Manchester Evening News.

Student HomesEven if you are at college or not studying at all youEven if you are at college or not studying at all youmay still be able to get a student flat! As a city witha thriving student population, cheapish homes thatare designed for students are all over the place.Lots of older students share houses and are oftenhappy to sub-let rooms to non-students too.Ironically lots of former council flats have been soldto the university in recent years. Salford Universityto the university in recent years. Salford Universityrecently introduced a guarantee of flats to allfirst year students and don’t require a deposit.Rents are rather reasonable and about the sameas council rent and your student loan will cover yourliving expenses. There are also extra grants forpeople from Salford, who are studying in Salford.

Emergency HostelsEmergency HostelsIf you have nothing but the shirt on your backand have nowhere safe to sleep then you needto get down to Crompton House in Swintonwhere the council’s Homeless Services arebased. They can sometimes get you short-termbeds at an emergency hostel but be warned!they are not the nicest of places and you need tothey are not the nicest of places and you need towatch your back and be pretty damn streetwise.The council have a special hostel designed foryoung people who do not have the skills to livealone based in Pendleton called Petrie Court.As it only has 16 beds you may have to wait awhile. If you are fleeing from domestic abuse besure to tell the housing advisor as you shouldsure to tell the housing advisor as you shouldget priority. There are also hostels for familiesand women. The Salvation Army also have anumber of homeless hostels that might help too.The fears and negative perceptions associatedwith homeless hostels in often prevents youngpeople from accepting the support they mayotherwise be able to provide. The flip side tootherwise be able to provide. The flip side toplaces like Petrie Court and council-run hostelsis the fifty-bed "Foyer" on Lower Seedley Road.Foyers exist all over the country and have aslightly better reputation although getting a placecan be difficult due to the long waiting lists.

TOWER BLOCK RESIDENTSCHASE BAILIFFS AWAY!

This project has beenpart-funded by the kindpeople at Vinspired.www.vinspired.org.uk

EPIC FAILURES OFSALFORD HOUSING

Write for NOUT! - Salford’s first and onlypublication by and for young people. drop us an email: office@nout.org.uk NOUT IN SALFORD // AUGUST 2009 // P2

Getting somewhere to live when your homeless in Salford is a realchallenge. There is apparently a massive shortage of affordablehousing and the way in which flats and houses are allocated topeople is complicated and those who faced with becoming homelesshave to wait a very, very long time just to get somewhere to live.But our city is full of empty boarded up properties! It really is a messand nothing short of a disgrace! Salford's Housing services areand nothing short of a disgrace! Salford's Housing services aremuch to be desired, over the past year Salford Youth Council hasbeen investigating after a series of complaints from young peopleand their parents about the poor levels of service the city councilcurrently provides. We are currently producing a video whichincludes undercover footage of goings on in Crompton House -the depressing place with bullet-proof glass at the desk wherehomeless people in Salford are being turned away every dahomeless people in Salford are being turned away every day.Salford City Council's moto (which you won't see anywhere on theCouncil's literature unless its on the crest and in latin!) translates as"The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law". In many cases, this law is being broken and ignored. The welfare of the people is in adesperate state. Look out for our film exposing the awful truth.

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