THE eviction of Heygate Estate tenant Evelyn Amahian and her two-year-old daughter was halted yesterday morning, when 40 tenants, trade unionists and youth arrived to stop them being made homeless.
The South-East London Council of Action banner was draped over the balcony and tenants held up placards saying: ‘Don’t let Evelyn be put on the streets’, ‘Don’t evict Heygate tenants’.
Evelyn was applauded by the crowd, after telephoning a council official who told her the eviction would not be taking place yesterday.
However, she insisted that Southwark must stick to its pledge to provide her with alternative accommodation.
She was asked to come to the council’s offices in Peckham to meet with a council official yesterday at 11.30, to look at three properties – only to be told that the official wasn’t there.
Evelyn insisted that the council fulfil its pledge to choose from three properties they had for her to view.
‘They keep telling me different stories!’ she said.
Tenants who came to support Evelyn were angered by the treatment of the residents on Heygate Estate, ever since Southwark Council unveiled its plan to destroy the 1,200-plus council homes on the estate at Elephant and Castle.
Mr Lawrence said: ‘It’s unacceptable how any human being living on a council estate who paid her rent and is part of the community should be treated like this by the council. It’s wrong.’
Mr Baduna said: ‘The way we’ve been treated is not fair.
‘What’s happening to Evelyn could happen to anybody.
‘They’re trying to force people off the estate to completely empty it.
‘It’s all wrong, we need to keep council housing.’
Sharon Nkansah said: ‘I think some of the staff are so rude, they don’t know how we are feeling.
‘It’s appalling to get rid of all this council housing.
‘All these things they told us, all these meetings we went to. It was all rubbish.’
Paul Lepper, Peckham Young Socialists member, said: ‘I think it’s ridiculous. I think people should definitely have access to affordable housing and they should be secure in their homes and not be moved out.’
Evelyn said she had been repeatedly misled by council officials and added: ‘I can’t go on the streets with my child.
‘I’ve been put under great stress and I’ve been misled and lied to. I’m very angry.’
