Housing Solutions
This category is divided into the following sections: 1). Housing Action, 2). Housing Co-op Networks, 3). Co-op Support, 4). Homelessness Action, 5). Self-Build, 6). Squatting, 7). Travellers, 8). Environmentally-Conscious Housing, & 9). Other Alternatives:
Housing Action:
Defend Council Housing: http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/
Empty Homes Agency: http://www.emptyhomes.com/
Housing Repossessions Advice: http://www.housingrepossessions.co.uk/
London Coalition Against Poverty – do casework to prevent gatekeeping by council housing departments: http://www.lcap.org.uk/
National Tenant Voice: http://www.hays.com/jobs/ntv/
(For emergency advice on debt, benefits, legal issues and housing, contact 'Citizens' Advice Bureau': http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ ).
Housing Co-op Networks:
Confederation of Co-operative Housing: http://www.cch.coop/
Radical Routes – a network of independent co-operatives working for social change: http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/
Rootstock - social investment society (part of Radical Routes): http://www.rootstock.org.uk/
Co-op Support:
Catalyst Collective: http://www.catalystcollective.co.uk/
Co-operative Assistance Network Limited (CAN): http://www.can.coop/
Upstart - a workers' cooperative that helps to start up & support social enterprises: http://www.upstart.coop/
Homelessness Action:
Centrepoint - Charity that provides emergency accommodation, support, information and training for homeless young people in London: http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/
Groundswell - a UK self-help network for the homeless: http://www.groundswell.org.uk/
Homeless Front UK - Out of the Doorways Campaign: http://squat.net/homelessfront/?q=contact
Homeless Link - national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in UK: http://www.homeless.org.uk/
Homeless People's Network (USA info-board): http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/
Pavement Magazine (UK) - free magazine for homeless people in London & Scotland: http://www.thepavement.org.uk/
Shelter - Largest UK charity- campaigns on housing issues, law reform etc. has advice helplines (doesn’t recognise squatting): http://england.shelter.org.uk/
Self-Build:
Self-Build Land For Sale in the UK: http://www.selfbuildland.co.uk/index.asp
Self-Help Housing - dedicated to promoting and supporting self-help housing initiatives:
http://self-help-housing.org/
Squatting:
Advisory Service For Squatters: http://www.squatter.org.uk/
Bristol Housing Action Network: http://www.public-interest.co.uk/bham/
Squash campaign (raising awareness about issues related to Gov't proposals to criminalise squatting): http://www.squashcampaign.org/
Travellers:
Friends, Families & Travellers: http://www.gypsy-traveller.org/law/tat.htm
London Gypsy Traveller Unit: http://www.lgtu.org.uk/index.php
The Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition: http://www.travellerslaw.org.uk/
Environmentally-Conscious Housing:
Building a Cob House - practical demonstration by Adam Weismann & Katy Bryce (Cob is a mixture of clay, sand & straw). View here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5w3UdHioXs
Construction Resources (an eco-building merchant): www.ecoconstruct.com
Green Builder (links to matters of green building interest in the UK): www.greenbuilder.co.uk
Green Building Bible: www.greenbuildingbible.co.uk
Green Moves (dedicated to advertising homes for sale that are more energy efficient than conventional homes ): www.greenmoves.co.uk
Green Refurb Ltd (aim to improve energy efficiency and minimise the environmental impact of existing property stock): www.greenrefurb.co.uk
Hockerton Housing Project is the UK's first earth sheltered, self-sufficient ecological housing development: http://www.hockertonhousingproject.org.uk/
Natural Building Technologies (an eco-building merchant): www.natural-building.co.uk
Straw bale building: www.strawbale-building.co.uk
Straw bale Building Association: www.strawbalebuildingassociation.org.uk
Sustainable Homes (promote awareness of sustainable development issues and good practice, and encourages housing associations and other registered social landlords to adopt environment friendly policies and practices): www.sustainablehomes.co.uk
Walter Segal Self Build Trust: www.segalselfbuild.co.uk
ZED Factory (a range of tools to support sustainable development schemes, including: design, product specification, best value for appropriate products, and use of tried and tested innovative environmental technologies): www.zedfactory.com
(see more land-based projects under 'Sustainable Land-based Solutions')
Other Alternatives:
Space Makers Network – reusing empty spaces for work & play: http://spacemakers.ning.com/