ES Views Letter of the Day: Grenfell victims should stay local

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, some victims have been told that they may not be rehoused in Kensington and Chelsea.

Research by the universities of Leeds and Sheffield and the Focus E15 Campaign shows that out-of-borough placements in such situations have a potentially damaging effect on people’s mental health. As mental health professionals, we know that austerity and displacement can lead to anxiety, depression and psychological difficulties.

While we do not yet know why this fire spread so quickly, those with little voice in society are being put at risk by current housing policies, cuts to public sector budgets, and the fragmentation and privatisation of key services.

That is why we call on Kensington council to rehouse the Grenfell victims within the borough to bring some stability to their lives.
Sally Zlotowitz, on behalf of the Housing, Austerity and Mental Health Network, Focus E15 and Psychologists for Social Change

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