News / acorn
Crowd turns out to thwart eviction of disabled man
The eviction of a disabled man in north east Bristol has been prevented after a crowd turned out in protest outside his home.
Dozens of members of the community union ACORN gathered in front of the property on Wednesday morning to block bailiffs from entering.
But the bailiffs were a no-show, with ACORN declaring a win.
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Ben Watson, who has lived in the ground floor flat of the house on Hillfields Avenue in Hillfields for 11 years, says he was served an eviction notice by his landlady just before Christmas.
The 59-year-old, who lives alone, has for the last six months been trying to find a new home through the council for himself alongside his daughter and granddaughter, who care for him, but to no avail.
The medically retired teacher of the deaf now wants to stay in his home for longer, until the situation has been resolved.
“I have to stay because I can’t go in a hotel. If they put me in emergency accommodation, I can’t take my dog, cat or ferret with me, these are the things that really help me with my depression,” he said.
“I can no longer look after myself properly. I have mental and physical needs and it’s getting harder and harder to look after myself.
“Just trying to pack, I really struggle because I can’t do much before I’m exhausted.
“Mentally, it’s made me really depressed and at times almost suicidal.”
Ben Watson, who is at risk of eviction, fears being separated from his pet dog – photo: Charlie Watts
Ben says he was served a Section 21 no-fault eviction by his landlady so she can sell his flat and the one above.
He is now waiting for HomeChoice (the council’s accommodation department) to place him in an appropriate priority band so that he can be rehomed.
“There’s no way we can afford to do it privately, so we’re stuck, we have to go through the council,” he added.
“The resolution I would really like is the council to get off its back side and give me a banding so we can start bidding for a property.”
Dozens of ACORN members turned out to prevent the eviction, including campaigner Nick Haskins – photo: Charlie Watts
Among the ACORN members outside Ben’s home was Nick Haskins, who has recently joined the community union and has previously been involved with campaigning in Knowle West.
He said of the landlady: “What they’re doing is an injustice, they’re on about evicting somebody through no fault of his own. He’s been paying his rent and everything.”
Fellow ACORN member Connor MacLeod added: “There’s no situation where someone deserves to be kicked out of their shelter, especially by someone who has no reason given. It’s disgusting.”
Bristol24/7 has contacted Bristol City Council for comment. Bristol24/7 has also attempted to contact the landlady of the property.
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read next:
- ‘The Renters Reform Bill does not go far enough in tackling a mounting housing crisis’
- Union resistance prevents ‘beloved’ community worker’s eviction
- Housing union aims to make Bristol the UK’s first ‘bid-free’ city
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