The entrance to Reclaim Croydon's newest free coffee hub.
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Reclaim Croydon are re-opening its Autonomous Cafe and Book Shop, providing free coffee, shelter, and events for residents of the borough.
Reclaim Croydon believe that the council are neglecting the borough, and residents must take action.
The group aims to revitalise abandoned buildings, use them to benefit the community, and provide shelter for people without homes.
Alex, a member of Reclaim Croydon, said: “Croydon Council, because of their corruption, have bankrupted three times.
“Sixty-one per cent of Croydon is abandoned.
“They’re shutting down three refugee hostels and homeless hostels.
They’ve already made the decision, but they haven’t decided where people are going to go.”
By occupying a mixture of council-owned and private properties, the group help rough sleepers turn abandoned buildings into safe shelter.
Alex explained: “We do housing. We take people off the street, help them set up the properties, and turn them into houses.
“Right now, we’re housing around thirty people in a few different homes.
“We’re squatting their properties to re-open social spaces.”
The interior of Reclaim Croydon’s latest café/event space / Conor Jones for City News
The Croydon community have been supportive. The group have zero funding and relies entirely upon its members and the wider community to survive.
Alex said: “We are based on solidarity. We hardly work with any money.
“The roastery donates coffee because they like the idea; other people bring stuff, some bring milk.
Not all locals are convinced.
@InsideCroydon@JasonForCroydon@MetCC the old FUN HOUSE on Croydon High Street has been taken over by squatters. We’ve seen people in and out with graffiti on the wall saying RECLAIM CROYDON. Worries this will become a drug hub pic.twitter.com/wPeuU7QsBv
The latest café opened on Wednesday in the group’s third location on Croydon High Street. The first was an abandoned office owned by Brick by Brick, a council-owned development company that left over three hundred publicly funded homes empty.
Croydon Council are aware of Reclaim Croydon and held open discussions with the group.
Alex told us: “They are aware of what we’re doing.
“We’ve been in meetings with them and said, look, this is what we’re doing; you cannot stop us.
“We are faceless anarchists.”
The window of Reclaim Croydon’s latest location is branded with the symbol of anarchism / Conor Jones for City News
Croydon Council were approached for comment, but did not respond.
On Monday, the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities designated an extra £18.5 million in funding to Croydon. The current plan is to revitalise the town centre, focusing on leisure and activity.
Croydon Council’s website states: “The projects will provide improved connections throughout the town centre, so residents and visitors will be able to travel more easily through safer, greener and more pleasant routes.”
There was no mention of investment in housing.
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HeadlineReclaim Croydon Revive Their Free Coffee Shop After Last Week’s Eviction
Short HeadlineReclaim Croydon revive free coffee shop
StandfirstAfter last week's eviction, Reclaim Croydon are serving locals hot beverages from a new location on Croydon High Street.
Reclaim Croydon are re-opening its Autonomous Cafe and Book Shop, providing free coffee, shelter, and events for residents of the borough.
Reclaim Croydon believe that the council are neglecting the borough, and residents must take action.
The group aims to revitalise abandoned buildings, use them to benefit the community, and provide shelter for people without homes.
Alex, a member of Reclaim Croydon, said: “Croydon Council, because of their corruption, have bankrupted three times.
“Sixty-one per cent of Croydon is abandoned.
“They’re shutting down three refugee hostels and homeless hostels.
They’ve already made the decision, but they haven’t decided where people are going to go.”
By occupying a mixture of council-owned and private properties, the group help rough sleepers turn abandoned buildings into safe shelter.
Alex explained: “We do housing. We take people off the street, help them set up the properties, and turn them into houses.
“Right now, we’re housing around thirty people in a few different homes.
“We’re squatting their properties to re-open social spaces.”
The interior of Reclaim Croydon’s latest café/event space / Conor Jones for City News
The Croydon community have been supportive. The group have zero funding and relies entirely upon its members and the wider community to survive.
Alex said: “We are based on solidarity. We hardly work with any money.
“The roastery donates coffee because they like the idea; other people bring stuff, some bring milk.
Not all locals are convinced.
@InsideCroydon@JasonForCroydon@MetCC the old FUN HOUSE on Croydon High Street has been taken over by squatters. We’ve seen people in and out with graffiti on the wall saying RECLAIM CROYDON. Worries this will become a drug hub pic.twitter.com/wPeuU7QsBv
The latest café opened on Wednesday in the group’s third location on Croydon High Street. The first was an abandoned office owned by Brick by Brick, a council-owned development company that left over three hundred publicly funded homes empty.
Croydon Council are aware of Reclaim Croydon and held open discussions with the group.
Alex told us: “They are aware of what we’re doing.
“We’ve been in meetings with them and said, look, this is what we’re doing; you cannot stop us.
“We are faceless anarchists.”
The window of Reclaim Croydon’s latest location is branded with the symbol of anarchism / Conor Jones for City News
Croydon Council were approached for comment, but did not respond.
On Monday, the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities designated an extra £18.5 million in funding to Croydon. The current plan is to revitalise the town centre, focusing on leisure and activity.
Croydon Council’s website states: “The projects will provide improved connections throughout the town centre, so residents and visitors will be able to travel more easily through safer, greener and more pleasant routes.”
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