A Housing Crisis – the 1st call of Social Justice | learning disabilities

Zetetick Housing is working in the midst of a housing crisis that has grown over the last 11 years. For 15 years we have attempted to house the disenfranchised, those with learning disabilities and autism and all the associated disabilities and mental health challenges. There is a massive unresolved problem of homelessness, and many are homeless because they have learning disabilities.

The first time I heard Dick Gaughan, I was young and inspired to fight injustice in the world. The way he sang The World Turned Upside Down put a shiver on me, below is a 1982 BBC recording of Dick Gaughan singing this song. The haunting acoustic guitar and the idea the vision could linger on in this time of housing crisis, rising prices, disenchantment and food banks gives the lyrics new meaning for me.

The question really is, as the saying goes, if you are not angry you have not been paying attention. Food poverty, housing crisis, poverty around electricity and gas and the huge increase in prices, how is this to be challenged and things made easier for those who don’t have a voice? We live in a great country but it could be better if we encouraged more care and support. Listen to the song and see what you think.

World Turned Upside Down
by Dick Gaughan
The World Turned Upside Down – from the Album: Handful of Earth

In 1649 To St. George’s Hill,
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people’s will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste ground grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feed the rich
While poor folk starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
Still we are free
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers’ claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down