On Saturday 18 April 2026, Migrants Organise joined thousands of tenants, trade unionists, and housing campaigners at the National Housing Demonstration 2026 in central London.
Together, we marched with a clear message: migrants did not cause the housing crisis—we are among those most harmed by it. We showed up to demand:
- Rent controls to make housing affordable
- A massive programme of social housebuilding
- Safe, secure homes for everyone—no exceptions
Our members, many of whom are currently living in asylum accommodation or navigating homelessness after being granted status, showed powerful leadership on the day. They showed up to the demonstration to make their voices heard and show solidarity with each and every person in the UK who is impacted by the housing crisis.
Dunstan, a member of Migrants Organise, shared his experience of living in asylum accommodation describing damp conditions, instability, and the constant threat of being moved with little notice. As he told the crowd:
“Migrants did not cause the housing crisis. We are among those most harmed by it… Blaming us is a distraction designed to divide us so we don’t challenge the real causes.”
Nanou, Migrants Organise member says:
“In our community we are tired, seeing people with bathrooms not fit for human beings. Enough is enough…we want to live with dignity”
At the same time, companies like Clearsprings Ready Homes, Serco and Mears Group continue to profit from government contracts. They make obscene profits from housing people in unacceptable conditions.
The demonstration was a powerful rejection of the narrative that blames migrants for the housing crisis. Instead, it brought people together around the real causes: decades of underinvestment in social housing, rising rents, and a system that treats housing as a source of profit rather than a human right.
For many of our members, the crisis is immediate and personal. Refugee homelessness has more than doubled in recent years, with people often given just weeks to leave asylum accommodation after receiving status—pushing many into destitution.
But the message from the day was not just about what we are against—it was about what we are for.
What made this demonstration so powerful was its unity. Migrants, renters, workers, and families stood together, refusing to be divided. Because when we come together, we see clearly: my struggle is your struggle and together, we will win.
The Migrants Organise Housing Justice campaign demands safe and decent housing for all. It’s time to put people over profit!
Migrants Organise is a platform for migrants and refugees to organise for dignity and justice. Join our mailing list.
For organisations wanting to join the campaign, contact Jawad@migrantsorganise.org
