protest

August 17th 2010
Day 1
The thing that really made my decide that extreme action was necessary if any of us were going to get any help with our complaints against Amicus Horizon Housing was a telephone call from Adult Social Care.
The trouble with these issues is that you inevitably end up complaining to everyone because when the first recipient of your complaint fails to succeed you move onto the second and so on, until you have reached whoever represents the top rung of the ladder, unfortunately it seems with housing issues that corporation landlords are the top rung of the ladder and councils and members of Parliament are small fry in comparison and are easily ignored.
I will be picketing the offices of Amicus Horizon over the coming weeks and Hastings town hall, for as long as I can and when I don`t feel up to it others will be there to let them know we will not give in to bullying

August 18th
Day 2
We recieved a letter from our M.P Amber Rudd today which included a reply to her from Amicus Horizon Housing, it states that they want us to move which is extremely annoying when you consider that we have been fighting for repairs for five years and that they now want us to move a couple of weeks before those repairs are completed.
They blatantly lie in their replies to our M.P I will post the letters on our comments page when I have time so that everyone can see how they operate.
They are disgraceful landlords and the control they have over Hastings council is extremely worrying especially if you check out how some tenants are being treated, and the methods employed by this rogue landlord to harass them such as: false i.d`s to enter properties, swearing, threats of violence, threats of eviction, deliberate damage to homes, refusal to do repairs, refusals to put through grant applications for disabled adaptations, the use of their complaints procedure as a weapon to punish tenants or to run them out of time in civil cases for disability discrimination.

19th August
Day 3
Apart from feeling pretty dizzy and bleeding a bit which is probably caused by me not taking my tablets (you have to eat with them) I`m ready to lose some weight lol. The new electricians finished rewiring in our home yesterday, they ripped out all of the previous rewiring put in by Booker and Best a few months ago, they said it was no good at all.
No matter what happens from now on, in future the behaviour of Ron Grimmer, Darren Goodsell, Steve Madell, Jon Head and Jane Porter will be the only thing that comes to anybody`s mind when they hear the name Amicus Horizon.
Watch out for our new video on saturday.

20th August
Day 4
I am looking forward to monday and our trip up to London. We will still be picketing Amicus Horizons offices every day next week with banners and we will be distributing leaflets outside their door, the pickets will be filmed continuously incase of incidents.
I feel quite bitter about the lies that were printed in the Hastings Observer this week, I know they were given by Amicus Horizon but a newspaper I think still has a responsibility to make sure they have been told the truth so I have asked the Observer to rerun the story and add the truth (I will of course provide proof) if they refuse I will enter our complaint to the press complaints commission. Every day that passes I am more and more determined to continue my hunger strike to the end, whatever that end might be but that relies entirely upon the decision of the CPS.
I had quite a rough day today, the builders come early but are very welcome because they have done a really nice job, far superior to any of the work we have had to suffer from Booker and Best Ltd but I am beginning to feel unwell, I will never give in to these people so I hope you will all hope with me that the CPS see harassment as persecution and Disability discrimination as a crime and that they prosecute the unlawful disconnection of gas water and/or electricity supplies.

21st August
Day 5. I do have a diet: Tea & chewing gum (I`m not swallowing the gum:-) I`m happy to be monitored, when it gets interesting I`ll switch on a 24 hour webcam (have to buy one first) I`ll be putting a video up today or tomorrow as well. Consider this: I complained for five years that my paths were broken 5 years! repair costs less than £100. 17th Aug I suddenly got a £3,000 patio. 17th Aug I got a brand new kitchen. 17th Aug My house was rewired. Amicus staff know they are at serious risk of prosecution write to the CPS Ludgate House Ludgate Hill London Ec1 Disability Discrimination is a Crime, STAMP IT OUT!
I`ve had worse days but it still was`nt very nice, quite dizzy all of the time and a bad headache and really bad stomach pains but that ones down to the lack of tablets but apart from that no problems, spent most of the day sitting in front of the computer putting a video together.

22nd August
Day 6
I feel really quite ill today, really bad neck and chest pain and nasty headache so I hope paracetomols don`t count as food. If I feel like this tomorrow I will send our petition to the CPS by special delivery if I feel better I will take it up to them, does`nt really matter either way they will get it. If I d feel well enough to take it to them I will go from there to their Sittingbourne offices to picket throughout the afternoon.
We`ve had several phone calls today about Amicus Horizon employees/agents/contractors who are currently working in some of our members homes, hopefully from tomorrow morning they will be recorded. We will not be picketing tomorrow if the weather is bad because we do not want anything we do to put anyone at risk of illness. Today we welcomed over 140 new friends.
Join us on Facebook and take part in our caption competition

23rd August
Day 7
I really do feel like s*** today, it`s okay for me to talk to you like that because Amicus Horizon have assured me it is okay for their staff to talk much worse to us. Actually we`re better than them so I went back and censored it. We won`t be picketing today its too nasty out there but if I get things done here today by midday I`ll be off to the CPS with a very impressive petition, if not it will go by special delivery.
We had a really hard day today, I had an especially difficult day, the hunger strike does`nt bother me much I know I can do that but all the efforts we have made to get someone to listen have failed, we have been met by a brick wall at every turn, newspapers sell you out for a bit of cheap advertising it only takes 15 minutes on this site to see that we have have been to every agency there is but even the CPS refuse to accept a simple petition delivered by 3 people in a friendly civilised manner. We will Demonstrate again on the 16th September 2010 from Southwark Bridge to the CPS headquarters Start at 2pm until 6pm.
Please note I am continuing my hunger strike, I will be attending this event but I am not an organiser, organisers names will be published at a later date, we want Amicus Horizon properly investigated as we have been and would be if we committed any of the offences that they are accused of. This will be a peaceful protest.

24th August
Day 8
You`ve seen the new patio now here`s the new kitchen. Tenants vulnerable or not should not have to go through five or six years of hell to get their repairs done. Amicus Horizon are a disgrace they bully and refuse to carry out repairs that they are obliged by law to do and then they harass and bully tenants for long periods of time denying them the right to live in peace and enjoy thyeir home and then when they get caught and their illegal misconduct is made public they do much more than they were asked to do in the first place, the reason that they do this is because they are Guilty! no other reason they have broken the law and they knew from the start that they were breaking the law. They are not fit to be landlords and it is about time Hastings council flexed their muscles against them instead of flexing them against the most vulnerable tenants in this town. I personally take pride in Hastings its a great town but our council are an organisation that brings shame on every single resident rich-poor young or old. They let us down.

25th August
Day Today has been easy because its been so busy, I am still considering legal advice that I was given yesterday and Hannah and Daniel are now up at the hospital, Lisa is with them and she`ll text me any news. Our repairs are now completed as far as I am concerned just so that I get rid of any further contact with them, it is extremely frustrating that no authority is interested in our problems if looked at individually and that we are treated as almost enemies of the state if we link them together. Hastings council should shoulder the majority of the blame for the lack of care towards vulnerable social housing tenants, they moan about paying rent benefit but they could`nt care less if Amicus Horizon give value for their money or not. Tomorrow is day 10 an important day for me double figures! but is it worth it? it would be if Jeremy Birch would open his eyes and see all the things he is`nt doing.

26th August 2010
Our Hunger Strike is now over, or at least suspended following legal advice from our barrister. I don`t mind very much, I was`nt finding it very difficult and could easily have carried on for much longer but at least it means that I will definitely be able to attend the London demonstration. Daniel and Hannahs baby was born this morning and they got a big surprise when they were presented with a boy, which proves scans are not always reliable, they are all fine and thank everyone who has phoned or sent goodwill messages. Have a good bank holiday weekend everyone, I`m going to hit the fish and chip shop then get on with updating this site properly over the next couple of days, and all the other things that have fallen behind a bit over the past week.

A letter to a clueless landlord

If you look at all of the disputes that we are supporting most appear to have started over quite trivial matters and have grown into major disputes, or civil actions in some cases yet they could easily have been avoided.
Sometimes looking back opens a path for a new step forward. Amicus horizon have concentrated on gain, obtaining as much property as they can get their hands on but we are not monopoly pieces we are people. Amicus Horizon may think they are seeing a revolt but in truth what they are seeing is the beginning of a revolt and it will continue to grow.
One simple suggestion to any Social landlord is concentrate on the "Social" for a little expenditure they could not only save massive sums of money they could also make their estates safer, friendlier and even after time landlord friendly. If they would just consider bringing back the caretakers. Caretakers and milkmen were the best social workers London and the U.K ever had, they kept an eye out for the elderly and they kept the estatees clean and were considered friends by the tenants. I am not suggesting Amicus Horizon start doing milk deliveries but caretaking is something they have never tried, applicants could even be voted in by the tenants and the caretakers could work with the community police officers and maintenance managers, they should even consider renaming their housing officers caretakers but they would have to train them in the art of teating people as they themselves would like to be treated.
The vandalism that caretakers would stop would more than pay their wages and the relationships they would build with tenants would be worth their weight in gold. Amicus Horizon should hesitate before they add any more properties to their portfolio because every property they purchase contains a family and they should stop seeing properties and begin to see the families inside them.
Tenant Involvement Say it like you mean it and stop acting like tenants are every landlords nightmare.
We are not bad tenants but you are a very bad landlord!
STAMP IT OUT!

1066ha.27th/08/2010
we have been trying to help Daphne over the past few weeks. Daphne is a very sweet old lady who is very distressed about the treatment she feels she has been subjected to by Amicus Horizon. Daphne has found some good support with Tim and Brenda but the only official support we could get her is once again Amber Rudd M.P who has agreed to see her on the 03rd September. Considering this lady`s age and her disability it would be fair if the authorities would not return to see her before that date or after unless her solicitor is present, Daphne has a lot of friends and they all share the same desire to be allowed to enjoy their home.

1066ha.28th/08/2010
Lisa has come to ask to ask for help and we`re not about saying no so we must do what we can for her, we need to recruit a volunteer or two if you would like to offer your services then please give us a call, gm@1066ha.co.uk don`t take too much notice of the demonstrations we are tenants not revolutionaries as soon as the CPS or the police agree to treat Amicus Horizon staff the same way that they would anybody else we`ll go back to doing this. I know that there`s no need to mention that this lady has a disability, goes without saying does`nt it, she needs friends, support and help with her landlord.

1066ha.28th/08/2010
we have spent the last couple of days getting organised now the builders have finished things are going to be much better and faster. Our case for criminal prosecutions has been strengthened today I think and to go with our petition which is still growing we are preparing separate files for each person to present to the CPS on the 16th. I will put up a new comments page tomorrow but its actually easier as it is for me on pm`s because it gives me a lot less work on the site.
We did some music for the video on the 16th and it is not bad at all.

1066ha.29th/08/2010.
Wandering goalposts, Amicus Horizon have now passed the matter of my lift application and the proposed enforced move to another property over to Adult Social care, there cannot be anybody with a disability or a dispute with Amicus Horizon who visits this site that does not recognise or, who has not experienced the same ducking and diving, I am happy for my claims to go ahead against Amicus Horizon in relation to all of the other issues and I am also happy to begin a fresh claim against Adult Social Care in relation to the lift as they now seem to be claiming full responsibility. I will not be moving though, I have not waited five years for repairs and watched Amicus Horizon (or Adult Social Care if they prefer) force my family to live like dogs just so our home could be taken away from us when it once again begins to resemble a home.

1066ha.29th/08/2010.
We went to Littlehampton today and talked to a lady with landlord problems and met with another in Hastings with pretty much the same problems, bad landlords always seem to have the same recipe for getting rid of unwanted tenants but we might have more success with these two because they are private landlords so the councils are likely to be more willing to use their powers to make them behave decently. Why is it everyone in authority seems to just ignore housing laws unless they want to throw someone out or put up their rent, the laws were presumably put their for tenants as well

1066ha.30th/08/2010
The very well known disabled cartoonist Dave Crippen has offered to create a cartoon in support of our cause which is pretty cool, we will print it out and make it the cover for our petition if we ever get anyone who is prepared to accept it, the only one who has offered to take it is a guy from Hastings council but Hastings council are the least likely to take any notice of it so there does`nt seem much point in giving it to them as they are the failing authority who drove us to demonstrate in the first place anyway the cartoon will be good. Dave has thousands of fans and followers and is highly respected and liked so his contribution shows that it is`nt just poor defenceless social housing tenants who support us

1066ha.02/09/2010.
I have been given a set of letters from a disabled couple who are tenants of Amicus Horizon, like the rest of us they became involved in a dispute with Amicus Horizon and found themselves the victims of bullying in particular from Jon Head. Like the rest of us they wasted their time going through the fake complaints procedure and got nothing in return except more harassment, attempts to wear them down despite their health problems. Like the rest of us they complained to the police and Like the rest of us they got nowhere. This time we are all going to get somewhere because we are united now and we will not stop until we do. I have asked for permission to publish these letters which I know I will be given and if my solicitor assures me that publication will not effect the inevitable criminal prosecution then I will post them on this page for all to read.
Tim has given permission for his correspondence to be published on this site. I am going to create a new page for Tims complaints tonight but until thats done ther is one letter below that I have chosen to put up because Tim is also supporting our other member Daphne. Same pattern, same behaviour, always the same names. Tim has a suggestion at the end of his letter which they should take notice of.

From: TIM xxxx <tim.xxxx@xxxxxxxxx>
To: cllr emily westley <cllr.emily.westley@hastings.gov.uk>
Sent: Thursday, 2 September, 2010 9:50:05
Subject: IPCC

Dear Cllr Westley
When i asked you for the contact details of IPCC , you suggested that i look on the web-site although i feel you could of given the information i asked you for.
As it happens i got the IPCC Details from a fellow Disabled Tenant whom is a female pensioner of 77 years of age.
This lady did inform my wife and myself that the fact that her complaint against the 2 Police Officers ( mail sergeants ) were allowed to drag on for 30 months the IPCC would not get involved !!.
My wife and myself found it quite distressing when this lady described the details of her complaints against SGT xxxxx and SGT xxxxxxxxxx.
Our complaints alone have dragged on for some 18 month against the Police, is there a purpose in their delaying tactics !!.
ON ANOTHER ISSUE OF RELEVANCE
This lady is also a tenant of Amicus-Horizon, she told ourselves that when Mr J Head was a housing manage while entering her home he told her TO SIT DOWN AND TO SHUT HER MOUTH !!, we don't doubt her account. We have experienced Mr Heads bullish behaviour when he attended our home while uninvited we told you and Ms Anderson for Amicus-Horizon on 05.08.10 we told of this and that he was pounding our front door with he's fist. The Electrician whom was with him can confirm this, our carer informed us that they were hanging about outside our home, Mr Head and the Electrician only left the area of our home when our carer left our home.
A message of thought to those who want respect, they have to earn it first!!.
RegardsT.xxxxCcMr G Morgan (1066ha)Ms L Anderson (Amicus-Horizon) IPCC The editor Hastings ObserverChief Inspector Ling (Sussex police)

1066ha.02nd/09/2010
The fight goes on, anyone interested in musical equipment I will be listing my 200 watt Marshall stack amp on ebay tonight, 4 speaker cab, effects pedal etc everything you would expect to find on an amp of this quality, very good condition no tears or scrapes.
I have watched kids getting assaulted, threatened with asbo`s for playing ball in the street around here for the last five years even though they have nowhere else to play, they are not criminals, just children. I have watched Amicus Horizon staff getting away with criminal offences for the past five years it is so unjust I will happily sell everything I have to see these people leave court with an asbo against their name because elderly or disabled people rely upon their professionalism and goodwill and it is so damaging when they just turn out to be cowardly untrustworthy bullies. Stamp it Out!

1066ha.03rd/09/2010
We took Daphne to her meeting with Amber Rudd M.P today and I think that Daphne will sleep easier tonight than she has for a while. There was a time before the council gave up all the council homes to housing associations where meetings like this were rare or unnecessary because neighbours used to look out for each other, the housing associations tactics of divide and control have cause a lot of damage within our communities if the clock could be turned back everyone would soon see that asbo`s cause hatred and resentment and the constant demands by housing association landlords to report on your neighbours are permanently damaging to every community, it would be better if we watched out for each other and left businesses like Amicus Horizon to watch out for themselves