In this new blog we’ll be debating gentrification, the housing crisis and the news that affects all Londoners. We’ll be casting an honest eye over ever-increasing rental prices, pubs being sold off to be turned into luxury flats, zero hours contracts and tube strikes, all with your valuable input of course.
Let’s kick things off by talking about that most basic of human rights: having a roof over your head. It’s no secret that the number of people sleeping rough has soared over the last five years, and according to homeless charity Crisis it’s risen by as much as 75%. While this may sound too staggering to be true, the combination of cuts to housing benefits, working tax credits and the continued lack of creating affordable homes puts this figure into perspective.
With yet more economic squeezes on the horizon, it’s down to the charity sector to solve the problem. We’re all familiar with the sight of Big Issue vendors selling magazines on the street, but have you ever wondered where the £2.50 cover charge goes? Sellers buy each issue for £1.25, and the remainder is their income. Aside from that very obvious help, selling the mag is a job with regular working hours, and the interaction with the public transforms lives. Vendor Alan says that the best thing for him has been “talking to new people. It has given me more self-esteem as I was quite isolated before.”
The Big Issue Foundation is the magazine’s charitable arm. They help vendors with essential things we take for granted, like managing money, setting up bank accounts, and buying kitchen utensils once they have a home. Read more about their work in this interview with CEO Stephen Robertson.
This month it’s their 20th birthday, and they’re celebrating with a party at Vauxhall’s famous nightclub Fire on Thursday 22nd. As well as live performances and house music from Fire regular DJ DMS, there’ll be a speech from James Bowen, the former vendor turned best-selling author of the A Street Cat Named Bob books. All proceeds for the event go to the foundation - buy tickets here.
What do you want to talk about here? How far the minimum wage gets you at the shops? The worst place you’ve ever lived in? Soho losing its heart to Starbucks and Prets? Leave us a comment on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook. Welcome to We Are London, your new home.
