Is it the Death of build for Social Rent Housing by Housing Associations?

That is an important question.

The disappearance of grant funding for social rent homes, and indeed virtual disappearance of and grant funding for builds of any nature (or at least released/ deliverable grants) raises whether the death of building social rent modelled homes has arrived?

The model that is workable just, is Market rent homes, a new model for a lot of social landlords , involving new tenancy agreements, different letting criteria , and different allocations methods (the last two ARENT the same item)

The Market Rent model CAN fill a hole in available homes , if builds occur.

Filling a need for homes.... but wait ...

But does this mean that the financial ability of building social rent homes has virtually vanished if indeed not vanished entirely?

No , not necessarily.

Within development possibilities that shouldnt be ignored , are risky, but buy to sell at profit.

That is where the niche for building more social rent modelled homes will arise.

Build/ sell at profit, then reinvest in build of social rent modelled homes.

This will bridge some of the funding restrictions, especially if the Association has development allowance/ funds in the first place, which most if not all do. The investment model for build to sell is vastly different than social modelled builds, and this could be a very valid funding generator.

This will allow initial non grant assisted funds to multiply, and then put back more into the pot for the social modelled builds.

I wonder if people will see this as a very valid route to compensate , in part for this dirth/ vanishing of grant assisted funding?

We shall see eh?

WCA call for evidence via Dr Wood .

By Dr Greg Wood, an ex Atos doctor and whistleblower

Maybe readers can help me?

I would like to build up a list/database of people who have done all of these things:

• Received Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit
• Been called for a face-to-face Atos assessment since 2010
• Been put in the Support Group after the face-to-face Atos assessment OR been put in the Support Group after reconsideration by the DWP OR been put in the Support Group by a Tribunal
• Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro*

I would like to know:

• Your first name and email address
• Whether the above procedure was a good, bad or neutral experience for you.

The results might well be useful in further action involving regulatory bodies.
Please reply to dr.greg.wood.wca@gmail.com with the title 'Call For Cases 1'

Thanks. 




*just kidding.



-----------------------------------------

Shared here , can you help the Doctor? 

Jules 

Sick Spam

You know I do stuff for people right?

Today, I had a PAYPAL imitation spam. Using assimilated images to appear as if it was Pay Pal .

It said , not word for word, cos its reported and deleted and i cant cut and paste anything....

"We need you to confirm password details as theres a payment from

Callums List 

Waiting to pay you money."


Why this is sick?

Callums List Closed their site due to extreme bullying and overwhelming onslaught from deniers of austerity and draconia, and if you dont know, Callums list highlighted deaths attributed to welfare support removal attributable to a french company or this government, or where either the coronor indicated poss cause, or suicide notes showed, or circumstantial implication of cause of death from relatives or trusted sources indicated case.

I wont hide my opposition to this government's treatment of the poor, vunerable, sick and disabled in any way.

Im blogging this because if you have a fear, theres no need for it.

Paypal and others have said its a disgusting use of positioning from the spammer(s)

This happens.
So be aware, not scared, and more resolute.

Justified Irritability. (Includes swearing)

What is it with people? 

Just out with dog and he Shat. 

Dogs do that. 

Woman walked right by, I had a pick up bag IN MY HAND and dogs not quite finished...

she looks me straight in face, and talks to woman next to her "I bet he dont pick that up cunt" 
(Please notice her action and her swearing in my face) 

So I says " "Hold on lady, he aint fucking finished yet, oh and whats this fucking bag in my hand for"

 Really was no need for her to do that was there. 

And yes Politeness went out the window in my reply. 

She was grey haired looked about early sixties. And no, i wasnt wrong to swear at old lady that did *that*

After my *reply* there was *no* apology as she walked rather arrogantly away.

No "sorry, i didnt see the pick up bag in your hand". no nothing.

Really annoyed me that did. Seriously.

NAZI SALUTES at War Memorials - Disgusting.

MANCHESTER SATURDAY 1st June 2013 :

When there is something written like this I had to read, and had to share this. Thanks Rebecca. 

An affront to memory. Shame on you.

My Uncle George: He was an ex-POW relative I spoke of on Twitter tonight while decrying the actions of the EDL, thinking of how that would seem to him were he still alive. It's a subject I've been reluctant to bring up amid recent events because it's incredibly emotional. He had a massive effect on my life, my thinking, he was such an influence, and I still spend a lot of time fighting for recognition of what he went through.

He was part of the Navy, an Enfield regiment. He was my great, great uncle on my mother's side. He was captured by the Japanese in '42.

He was reluctant to share his experiences, they stuck with him until the end of his life, and knowing what they were to him I won't share them. I will say that upon his rescue from the camp, he witnessed the devastation of the bombs. That is something that he has never spoken of, to my understanding, beyond the fact he saw it.

The camp he was in didn't find out until months after the end of the war that it was over. A plane flew over the camp and, upon discovering it, dropped an issue of 'Reader's digest' which told the prisoners the news. They came back later to drop supplies (during the supply drop the plane crashed nearby). The captives within the camp overpowered the guards upon the news, taking control of the camp and then waiting for rescue.

They weren't taken back to the UK immediately, they were transported by Canadian troops back to Canada, as I mentioned previously, the route included much of the devastation within Japan. When they got to Canada they were given a meal - rather unfortunately the main part of which was rice. He collapsed upon before even taking a mouthful due to malnourishment and ill health as a result of his treatment in the camp. It turned out to be a good thing in a way. He was in such bad shape that he was told by doctors there that, had he eaten it, there was a good chance he would have died.

They brought him back to health at no cost and cared for him during the time it took to get him well enough to come home. The Canadian government gave each of the POWs from the rescue $5000 (or £5000, I can't remember) as compensation for what they went through. 

They never received an apology from the Japanese government. In his lifetime there was barely even an acknowledgement of the atrocities that occurred.

In the years after his death I continued to fight for that acknowledgement and apology on his behalf from the Japanese administration.

A number of years ago I moved from London to the West Country. My Mother bought a poppy from a RBL man selling them near to where we lived in the street and they began to talk. They were in the same regiment, on the same ship. Small world, eh?

He fought fascists. He fought for freedom. For memorials of the fallen to be thrown salutes akin to those they fought against, and suffered for as a result of their fighting that fascism, is a disgrace. 

Those whose names are on those memorials, who those memorials were erected for, who were in receipt of those salutes fought against fascism, they fought for democracy, for freedom. For it to be on our streets now, for those salutes to be used to the those such as my Uncle George and his fellow men, is vile beyond words. To any and all of you who took part in such an affront to freedom and dignity, an affront to history and the suffering within it, shame on you. Shame on all you stand for.

Posted by Rebecca You can find Rebecca on twitter @halfabear.

Full Disclosure is Difficult but essential .... ESA50

Right. 


Just spoke to someone about esa50 completions. 





And the thing people do is

.. breathes.. 

Disclose what they create as public image through coping mechs. 


The form and test doesnt want that. 

It wants what YOU are , not an image you create.

 Its a difficult one to see, but yes by hell ive seen people fail because full disclosure wasnt done. 

.Breathes again... 

Thats why sometimes emotion needs to be removed by someone else in assist mode to complete the form .... 

its a messy system to say the least and those on it know it is. 

I think that the design of it all is completely there to strip peoples rights and dignity away.

Thats no light thing to say. But its how i feel about it right now. This might mean NOTHING to some who read this.


And page 5 is where all the reasons they shouldnt call you in , with page 17 also available if any questions were inappropriate or werent explained correctly within the limited options they give. 

Some wont be called in BECAUSE of the ESA50, if it is done correctly , and in truth they shouldnt be called in. 

Else its this: 

Heres a Thing about Bowels...and forms..and well, read..

For those that dont like Bowel related stuff the pic below represents , in part the PAIN of a bowel disorder. 

 I was helping someone with their ESA50. they have a violent bowel release problem amongst other things.

 And pains too. 

I too suffer with a bowel problem. Different than theirs, but kindred solidarity and understanding between us exists regarding these matters. 

I asked them to wait whilst i dealt with my urgent *please dont argue* bowel signal .

 We laughed cos he just said before i got there 

"whilst you are here keep the loo clear" 

And it was unclear as to whether I had the right to usurp clear passage to the toilet, but I certainly did, I had no choice.

The loo often calls out to people. Sometimes we imagine it even has a personality and magnetism of its own.... 

"Come on you know you wanna!" 

Oh what larks us invisibly ill people have.

 I wish the government NONE of my problems. 

But I want all the forms shit and stress from their systems denying incomes to be bottled and force fed to every last on of them .

 I want them to know that their health and priviledge is but a blip. 

and they could instantly fall foul of many mental or physical issues , 

seen or unseen. 

How quick would they change their attitudes then. 

Post script: IDS is a kept Man. I wish upon him withdrawal of all his priviledged benefits.

I.T inclusion? Widespread? Myth. Reality.

How the hell do i help the guy that sms'd me re needing computer cos its too fucking difficult without?

 Theres the netbook i could give, but their connection then becomes an issue.

I HATE positions like this.

 I've been admirably helped myself yet cant do it in return unless they already have a net connection .

 If had spare lappy could enable it ubuntu trouble free and fast, but then the connection issue causes me a pain in the arse cos its all ZERO money all round.

I know what people need but CANT do it.

And yet they ask.

There'll be many of you in same position as this.

 Its awful.

I suspect the request is due to Govt drive towards everything on line. I wrote about this on my blog a while back. Welcome to realisation. This will happen more.

Its ESA50 time......

Say Kids? What Time is it? OOOH ESA50 time!

I wish I could send them a picture similar to above. In fact, I might.
(for Visually Impared the picture is a comparison between healthy and non healthy colon) 

Theres pain in my bowels regularly, very regularly.

AND I HAVE TO explain that to complete unknown strangers.

How i walk when it hurts , when i lose control, how infections occur, complications, limitations etc.

Cross relations antibiotics with other tablets, risks and threats to further heath, knock on issues etc etc.

. IT'S complete bowelux in the head. (see the pun?)

The NON bowel thing is also having to be explained. The thing is ...... Just writing down *the thing* DOes not guarantee understanding.

I've said this MANY MANY times. The WCA is NOT a medical assessment. If so the disclosure of detail you must jump through and disclose would NOT be necessary. Stating the disease or ill would be sufficient.

________________________________________________________________________

(for Visually Impared, its a picture of Play School from childrens television)

Its play school drs and nurses. And its , yet again, doing my head in. (which , by the way I have to also explain Depression. To a supposed medical service)
_______________________________________________________________________


Yep its ESA50 syndrome time again where my levels of stress are elevated, and im angry,


And if that happens sometimes its MUSIC time:

Housing Conundrums - very difficult area.

I enjoyed a chat with Frances on this, and commented as this: 



If you build housing for social benefit without right to buy, this will boost areas, local economies, employment, and national benefits ensue. This is ideologically impossible if you believe assets for profits is the only valid model. Both can exist. As Frances points out the least damaging is a social housing expansion. The damage is even LESS if RTB is removed. 
The equalisation of entry into home occupancy would be improved, as social homes would be available. 
The remaining issue would be the concept of housing as an appreciating asset for disposal later at a vast profit. This has been the main housing and economic problem. Housing bubbles burst, mortgage markets fail, all sorts of cascades hit. This is what needs looking at in a brand new manner. 
Hard to discount constructed reductions in house prices, but this , i agree would be slowed by a major investment in social housing. 
I hope this makes sense. 

Heres Frances Coppola on the subject and what we were talking about: 

http://coppolacomment.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-housing-conundrum.html

And now 

Age Restricted Properties in 2013 causing problems without justification

I'm Collating Situations here where age restrictions are getting in the way of Housing need.
________________________________________________________________

Hi Jules,

I've had problems with two 1 bed flats being age restricted so far.  The company that runs the bidding site has removed the restriction because of my disability, but it has been the actual Housing Associations who have denied me permission to continue with the bids.

In the first instance, the most suitable, I was informed that the HA were advertising on behalf of a management company, and it was these that were being strict on the 55 and over rule.  This flat is now up for bids for a 4th time and has been empty for a couple of months from what I understand.  It's ridiculous.

The second flat was not ideal, but it was my own HA's property and they denied me permission to bid on it.

My wife and I are finding that many of the properties we're allowed to bid on are simply not suitable for us or have an age restriction, and these problems have made us reluctant to bid on them.

I am going to speak to my newly elected County Councillor, Azhar Ali, on Monday, as well as the leader of Pendle Borough Council, Joe Cooney, with regards to this.  Unfortunately my local MP, Andrew Stephenson, believes completely in the Bedroom Tax and has been of very little assistance.  I am, however, hoping to speak to him on these age restrictions - I'll let you know if he responds.

If I can provide any further help, please let me know.

Best wishes,

Wayne

***

Hi Jules,

OK. I’m currently living in a bungalow in Hertsmere, in SW Hertfordshire. They’re designated for >60s and disabled people, which is fine, but they’re extremely small and it’s impossible to use a wheelchair inside.

I have recently decided to move home to Scotland. As I have a progressive condition and I’m not that far off needing to use a wheelchair indoors, I applied for sheltered housing. The designation was “Over 60, or younger where the person could benefit from sheltered housing”. When I got the letter back with my points etc, I phoned up to enquire about how it would all work. That was when I was told that if anyone over 60 applied for a property (disabled or not), I wouldn’t get it.

As I said on Twitter – clearly if you’re under 60, you’re not allowed to be disabled!

Margo