Manchester’s ongoing housing crisis
Another exposé piece by Jen Williams this week has put Manchester’s housing dilemma back under the microscope.
It is a damning report that covers issues from Local Housing Allowances not being able to cover rent payments, the staggering number of children living in temporary housing and no-fault evictions being ‘given away like sweeties’.
1 There has not been, for some years, a single ward in the city where average rents can be covered by Local Housing Allowance (the housing benefit for private sector tenants). That includes several areas that rank high among the UK’s most impoverished neighbourhoods.
For a more in-depth look at poverty across the city region, we recommend the GMPA Poverty Monitor.
These boots are made for working
Special thanks this week goes to the Job and Talent agency, for their amazing donation of safety shoes for our warehouse team and furniture collection drivers!
In-kind donations are hugely important for us, and help to keep our costs down. If you have surplus items which you think Mustard Tree could make use of, please drop us an email to information@mustardtree.org.uk or call 0161 228 7331. Thanks so much for all your support.
Quays TV report on the cost of living
This week we were visited by Quays TV, who were reporting on rising living costs and economic pressures for people in Manchester and Salford. You can watch the video below, or listen to the full radio report at the top of the page.
The article reinforces our concerns that the next 18-24 months will be particularly difficult for those with less income - as inflation continues to rise on essential items such as food and energy.
Can your local community group, business or church help keep our food costs down by arranging a regularly collection? A huge thank you to everyone who is already doing this for us!
Volunteering
If you were at the MMU volunteering fair earlier this month, you probably had a chat with Will and Harry about volunteering with us! You can find out more about becoming a ‘friend of’ Mustard Tree via this link.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all our friends of volunteers, who have been crucial to keeping our services running during the pandemic and beyond.
Final Word
When times are tough and we feel like we’re fighting a losing battle - celebrating successes like the below are more important than ever.
The above message was received by our Freedom Project Coordinator Courtney, by a client we were supporting for some time through walk-in support.
If you know someone who may need help, please see our referrals page.
Upcoming events:
Run the Manchester 10k or half-marathon for Mustard Tree (almost full!)
Mustard Tree Charity Abseil at the Trafford Centre
Punk in Drublic Poetry in aid of Mustard Tree
Can you help us combat poverty and prevent homelessness?
If you enjoy reading our newsletter and want to support our work, the best way you can do this is by joining the Real 10k and setting up a regular gift to help keep our services running. We have an aim to recruit 10,000 donors - each giving £5 a month - to help secure our charity for years to come - and create lasting change across Manchester and Salford.
Please join us in this mission by clicking the button below.
To our partners who are already supporting us with a monthly donation, please share this newsletter with friends, family members and colleagues - and thank you so much for all your ongoing support. Your kind donations are vital for us to continue our work and much appreciated by us all.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mustard Tree's Round-Up