As ACORN Members have been doing since 1970, our members work on the issues that matter to low and moderate-income families in their communities, homes, and workplaces. Our chapters around the world have been getting out, getting active, getting heard, and winning major victories!
Find out how below!
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DSWU
The work of Dollar Store Workers United was featured in the Labor Day edition of the Working-Class Perspectives blog published September 5th 2022. The feature was also spotlighted on the September 8th episode of the WFPW 89.3 political talk show Your Rights at Work produced by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith.
KABF 88.3FM
On August 27th the Central Arkansas Library System joined with KABF the Voice of the People to honor the Legend of Arkansas radio, John Cain who has been with KABF most of its 38 years on air. Over 100 people joined the celebration which included a viewing of the trailer for J. T. Tarpley’s newly released documentary: 88.3 The Voice of the People.
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 SOCIAL POLICY Volume 54 Issue 3 Fall 2022 is in the works with the current issue being prepared for to sunset. Renew or subscribe today to get full access to the archives. For now, continue to enjoy the Summer 2022 issue at socialpolicy.org and keep an eye out for Fall’s upcoming dive into US midterm elections, the democratic party, life at the dollar store, sexual justice, and more!
UNITED LABOR UNIONS LOCAL 100
Members at the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) organized a luncheon
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In August, nearly 50 people from the Makepe 1 Missoke district gathered to discuss the priority concerns that affect all residents. The top 4 issues identified were:
- Flooding;
- Insecurity (assault and theft);
- The isolation of the main road; and
- Sanitation.
The resident will meet to organize specific campaigns and develop the strategy and action plan for each priority issue.
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📣 NEW CHAPTER ALERT 📣
ACORN officially formed a Calgary chapter with the election of chapter leadership and the launch of the Safe Parks campaign!
In Ottawa, ACORN launched the Agenda for Change (AFC) municipal election platform leading up to an October election. In support of the platform, ACORN will organize community events with candidates as well as outreach through doorknocking, phone calls, and flyering. #Agenda4Change
Peel ACORN continue to their call for a strong Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Bylaw in Mississauga. To support their call, Peel ACORN conducted a survey to show the need for affordable housing and to push the city to a stronger stance.
In Mississauga, ACORN leaders are fighting back against PSP, one of Canada's biggest pension funds, and other multi-billion-dollar corporations like Starlight Investments. These corporations are funding landlords who are failing tenants by destroying affordable housing and creating unlivable conditions.
Also…
📣 TORONTO ON TIKTOK 📣
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Members celebrated Independence Day in Gandhi nagar market and the Hawkers Joint Action Committee organized a protest against eviction and for public rental housing.
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On the occasion of the G7 meeting for sustainable urban development, ACORN International joined with initiatives of urban society from around the globe to call on state ministers to take action on, "poverty reduction and social inclusion in cities."
As members of the global tenant movement, the coalition calls for the socialization of housing as a sustainable solution to the global housing crisis! Activists of all nations must join the call to the G7 ministers of state to make the human right to housing a central part of their agenda.
Our cities - worldwide - need housing justice now!
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From the Jesus Maria barrio in Lima, Peru.
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“At this crucial moment - ACORN is ready with a union and a membership willing to fight, with a robust organisation built across workplaces, sectors and communities. The world is at a crossroads and ACORN is establishing our unique and vital place in this struggle.”
- ACORN Chair Rohan Kon opening the first national conference of ACORN UK in Sheffield July 2022
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
The Daily Yonder (August 16, 2022) Report: Rural electric cooperatives lack women, minorities in elected positions. Carolina Public Press
- A new study finds that while cooperatives deliver electricity to 42 million Americans, they are lacking in diversity to reflect it.
CANADA
Rosa Saba (August 6, 2022) ‘Paycheque to paycheque.’ Inflation is hitting low-income Canadians hard — and its effects are likely to be long-lasting. Toronto Star
- Rising prices are making it difficult for millions to afford the basic necessities, including food and housing.
Jenna Moon (August 8, 2022) Looking for an apartment to rent? Try taking these steps
Toronto Star
- Check out prices in your preferred neighbourhood, know the upper limit of your budget and don’t be surprised if the apartment goes for more than the listed rent.
Declan Finucane (August 12, 2022) Mississauga moves for more affordable housing, but citizens group says it’s not enough. Insauga
- Peel ACORN, an independent social and economic justice organization comprised in part of low- and moderate-income Mississauga residents, says it’s “dismayed” by Mississauga’s IZ policy because it doesn’t go far enough to tackle the huge problem.
Matthew Strader (August 15, 2022) Some Brampton tenants fear 'renovictions'. Brampton Guardian
- Peel ACORN wants local legislation to protect renters from above-guideline rent increases
Safiyah Marhnouj (August 15, 2022) Renters facing record-high prices, dwindling options in Ottawa. CBC News
- Available listings have dropped by nearly half compared to this time last year
Samantha Wright Allen (August 22, 2022) ‘No brainer’: consultations should not delay federal crack down on high-interest loans, say NDP MP, ISG Senator. The Hill Times
- Bader Abu-Zahra of ACORN Canada said the pandemic has pushed even more vulnerable members to take out high-interest loans.
UK
ENGLAND & WALES
Nigel Lewis (August 12, 2022) Acorn campaign group reveals 44% of local HMOs not licensed by council. Landlord Zone
- Renters’ union Acorn has inadvertently highlighted the unfairness of landlords paying for license fees when poor enforcement means many rogue landlords simply refuse to do so, happily dodging the high fees and paperwork.
Felicity Macnamara (August 19, 2022) Acorn union accuses Incommunities of being 'misleading'. Telegraph & Argus
- The Acorn spokesperson said: “It’s disappointing Incommunities have decided to misrepresent us like this, but we're still happy to meet with them.
Persis Love and George Hammond (August 25, 2022) oaring UK rents leave tenants facing eviction and homelessness. Financial Times
- Such increases are spilling over from expensive cities into more affordable areas. “People are moving to Scotland because prices are lower,” said Sean Baillie, national committee member at Scottish tenants group Living Rent. “The housing problems in London and Dublin are now spilling over into Glasgow.”
SCOTLAND – LIVING RENT
Steph Brawn (August 12, 2022) Dunkeld tenants threatened with 'heartless' eviction by National Trust. The National
- FURIOUS residents in Dunkeld are urging the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to think again after threatening two tenants with a “heartless” eviction in the midst of a housing crisis.
Sean Bell (August 16, 2022) NUS calls for rent controls and student housing guarantee. The National
- Aditi Jehangir, a spokesperson for the Living Rent tenants union, told the National: “As energy bills and rent skyrockets, students, like all tenants, desperately need rent controls to bring rents down to ensure tenants across Scotland have access to affordable, quality, secure homes.”
Gordon Maloney (August 22, 2022) The fight for rent controls: A question of power. Red Pepper
- In Scotland, the tenants’ union Living Rent has been campaigning for the past eight years for the reintroduction of rent controls. In that time, the need for them has been reinforced by events across the board.
Liam Geraghty (August 26, 2022) Campaigners hold fake award ceremony outside landlord’s office over £200-a-month rent hike. Big Issue
- Living Rent activists awarded Kelvin Properties the “Biggest Rent Hike of the Month” after Jemma Maclaren, 44, saw the rent for her two-bedroom flat in Partick, Glasgow, surge almost 30 per cent from £695 to £895 per month.
Stewart Paterson (August 26, 2022) Private rents in Glasgow rise to £1000 a month amid calls for rent freeze. Yahoo News
- Silas Lehan, a spokesperson for Living Rent said. “By hiking up rents by an average of 16% across Glasgow, landlords are pouring petrol on the cost of living crisis at a time when household costs are already spiralling out of control for many Glaswegians.
BBC (September 6, 2022) Rent freeze plan to tackle cost-of-living crisis in Scotland. BBC
- Nicola Sturgeon has announced a rent freeze for public and private rented properties as part of efforts to help people struggling with rising bills.
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SEPTEMBER 2022
