Beating HIV Hate Neighbours

posted: 07/12/2010

Tom faced a four year campaign of HIV hate from his neighbours before he finally moved away. Tom (not his real name) is gay and HIV positive and his sexuality and having HIV made him a target for one of his neighbours in a block of flats in Manchester.

• They made inappropriate and abusive comments to him and his partner
• Then they accused him of playing loud music in the early hours
• They accused him of threatening them, so he was arrested.
• They also told other people in the block about his HIV
• Tom was assaulted twice
• His landlord, a housing association, went to court and got an injuction against him
• His landlord tried to evict him.

"This neighbour kept diaries about me, recording who was visiting my flat, and she claimed I was bullying her. The housing association that owned the flat issued an injunction against me. She got me arrested for allegedly threatening to kill her."
Earlier this year Tom’s housing association tried to end his tenancy, by sending him a court summons to repossess his flat .
 

Breakthrough Help

That was when he asked Breakthrough UK to help. Breakthrough are a Manchester-based national charity which supports disabled people who are victims of hate crime. Tom said "They advised me to give up the flat and get out. They gave me support, and now I'm in private accommodation. This neighbour made my life hell. She was making stuff up about me. I couldn't stand to be in the flat. I started drinking and would stay out as late as possible.
 

Police Say - Not a Hate Crime
"I told the police but they didn't see it as a hate crime – just anti-social behaviour.

I am a lot happier now. I have no stress and I'm free from all the hatred and homophobia. Without the support of Breakthrough I would probably have finished up in prison. The neighbour had claimed I had breached the injunction, but that was untrue, she just wanted to get me locked up."
 

Stamping out HIV hate
Lorraine Gradwell, Chief Executive of Breakthrough UK, said: "Our service sends out a clear message that any kind of hate crime against disabled people must be stamped out." Hate crime can be a physical attack or verbal attack towards a person because of their disability. Last year Greater Manchester Police recorded 74 incidents of hate crime against disabled people, but not this one.
 

The police are now working closely with disabled people and disability organisations including Breakthrough UK, to raise awareness of the crime and encourage victims to come forward.
 

Sergeant Kate Crompton, Greater Manchester Police, said: "Some disabled people are subject to appalling crimes because of their disability. Many are unaware that incidents such as name calling, harassment and intimidation can be criminal offences and should be reported to the police straight away. We are working hard to catch offenders and support victims and would ask anyone who has been subject to this crime to come forward. This type of behaviour is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated and those responsible will be brought to justice."
 

HIV Hate Too?

If you have been a victim of HIV or disability hate crime, you can contact

• George House Trust services team by email or by phone 0161 274 4499
• Breakthrough UK
• The Working It Through Together Project at Breakthrough UK runs a Disability Hate Crime Helpline for Greater Manchester     0161 882 2213        on Wednesdays between 2pm - 6pm, and you can leave a message on the ansaphone outside this time.
• your local neighbourhood policing team at www.gmp.police.uk or by calling 0161 872 5050
   

Working It Through Together  staff are also available on the main Breakthrough UK phone number       0161 273 5412       on Monday - Friday between 9 and 5, or by e-mail.
 

Source

Breakthroughs in Life

posted: 08/12/2009

If you feel trapped in a HIV rut, maybe this example of small steps leading to big, welcome changes will inspire you. ‘Rob’ (not his real name) was seeing a George House Trust adviser about employment and other problems at George House Trust, and we suggested he go to the Independent Employment Advocacy Centre. With his employment problems their ‘supported advocacy’ would be especially helpful to him.

‘Rob’ worked at a hostel for people and had asked for an Occupational Health assessment for work because his HIV treatment was changing and this affected his work. One of the advocates from Independent Employment Advocacy Centre went with him and supported him at the Occupational Health Assessment by a doctor, and then helped him successfully apply for Disability Living Allowance and Working Tax Credits.

Working breakthroughs
Nine months on, he was able to look and plan his career. He’s asked Breakthrough’s Employment Team to support him in the career move he really wants. He has become more active in his trade union and put himself forward to be a learning rep this year, and has now been in this role for several months.

He also had an appointments with Breakthrough’s new Law Works clinic, about a housing problem. He says that “Breakthrough is supporting [him] to stay in work, and has made all the difference for [him]”.

BreakThrough UK provide a range of services including legal advice at their new law clinic. Anyone who has HIV counts as disabled and can therefore use Breakthrough. Their law clinic helps with advice about Housing, Employment, Benefits, Consumer Affairs, Debt, problems. They can’t help with criminal, family or immigration/asylum problems.

The law clinic is at Breakthrough and runs from 6pm to 8pm fortnightly on Wednesdays and available by appointment only. To book ring the Independent Employment Advocacy Centre : 0161 273 5412

Employment Advice on the road
Their Independent Employment Advocacy Centre (IEAC) is holding a series of Outreaches, where you can come for information and confidential one to one support on employment issues. Dates are as follows:
Old Trafford Library, Old Trafford (Every 1st Tuesday, 11am – 1pm)
5th January 2010

Shaw Trust, Oldham (Every 2nd Friday, 10am – 1pm)
11th December 2009
8th January 2010

“Café Eden” Victoria Mill, Bolton (Every 3rd Wednesday, 12pm – 2pm)
16th December 2009
20th January 2010

Stockport Wellbeing Centre (Every 3rd Thursday, 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
17th December 2009
21st January 2010

Breakthrough Breakthrough UK Ltd.
Business Employment Venture Centre,
Aked Close, Ardwick,
Manchester M12 4AN
0161 273 5412
Text phone: 0161 273 5727
email
 

Liverpool Office 0151 236 1030