A event on Friday 11th April. The event starts at 19:00.
EBB is excited to bring two of the most vital commentators on the politics of housing today in Britain and beyond into conversation: Alva Gotby, author of *Feeling at Home* (Verso), and Jacob Stringer, author of *Renters Unite!* (Pluto). The discussion, chaired by Jo Lindsay Walton, will address both books and map the territories between them, from the feeling of being "at home", via social reproduction and Wages for Housework, to the movement organising of renters' unions and housing activism.
On *Feeling at Home*:
Our feelings about housing are political, and a grasp of them is essential to solving the housing crisis – from the author of *They Call It Love*. Housing is more than bricks and mortar. The home is where our hopes and dreams play out, and it lies at the heart of our lives. This is where we rest, eat, and relax. The home we enjoy can determine our health, life expectancy, and day-to-day well-being. In contrast, the lack of a stable residence can lead to mental and physical illness and often premature death. This is central to how we conceive of a good and dignified life.
*Feeling at Home* grapples with the practical and emotional questions of housing – domestic labour, privacy, security, ownership, and health. Is it possible to imagine success without home ownership? Alva Gotby makes clear that solving the housing crisis is about much more than housing stock. It is about revolutionising our everyday lives and labours.
On *Renters Unite!*
As housing crises proliferate around the world, so does the fightback. A new generation of tenants' unions are rising up to demand good, affordable housing for all. From the streets of Los Angeles to the avenues of Berlin, these unions are rewriting the playbook on community empowerment and direct action.
In *Renters Unite* longtime organizer Jacob Stringer navigates the joys and perils of a new and exciting form of political organising. Through vivid storytelling and analysis, this book takes readers to the frontlines to expose the brutality of criminal landlords and exploitative housing.
Bios:
Alva Gotby is a writer and organiser living in London. Her first book, *They Call It Love*, was published in 2023. She holds a PhD from the University of West London and writes about feminist theory, social reproduction, housing, emotions, and family. She is active in struggles for better homes for all.
Jacob Stringer is a housing and social movements researcher, and a member of London Renters Union. His work has appeared in openDemocracy.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
On *Feeling at Home*:
Our feelings about housing are political, and a grasp of them is essential to solving the housing crisis – from the author of *They Call It Love*. Housing is more than bricks and mortar. The home is where our hopes and dreams play out, and it lies at the heart of our lives. This is where we rest, eat, and relax. The home we enjoy can determine our health, life expectancy, and day-to-day well-being. In contrast, the lack of a stable residence can lead to mental and physical illness and often premature death. This is central to how we conceive of a good and dignified life.
*Feeling at Home* grapples with the practical and emotional questions of housing – domestic labour, privacy, security, ownership, and health. Is it possible to imagine success without home ownership? Alva Gotby makes clear that solving the housing crisis is about much more than housing stock. It is about revolutionising our everyday lives and labours.
On *Renters Unite!*
As housing crises proliferate around the world, so does the fightback. A new generation of tenants' unions are rising up to demand good, affordable housing for all. From the streets of Los Angeles to the avenues of Berlin, these unions are rewriting the playbook on community empowerment and direct action.
In *Renters Unite* longtime organizer Jacob Stringer navigates the joys and perils of a new and exciting form of political organising. Through vivid storytelling and analysis, this book takes readers to the frontlines to expose the brutality of criminal landlords and exploitative housing.
Bios:
Alva Gotby is a writer and organiser living in London. Her first book, *They Call It Love*, was published in 2023. She holds a PhD from the University of West London and writes about feminist theory, social reproduction, housing, emotions, and family. She is active in struggles for better homes for all.
Jacob Stringer is a housing and social movements researcher, and a member of London Renters Union. His work has appeared in openDemocracy.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
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